Tag Archives: labor

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 13 – 14 January 2015: NASCAR Hall of Fame to be closed? Obamacare targeted killing of thousands of non-profit jobs! More proof oil job losses are not due to oil prices!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

According to the National Association of Counties, only 65 out of 3143 counties across the United States have “fully” ‘recovered’ since 2008!!!

Alabama: Obama Care forcing the only mental hospital in the Tennessee Valley to shutdown?  North Alabama Regional Hospital will shutdown by June, 149 jobs lost!  After 25 years Applebee’s shutting down their Brookwood Village restaurant on 01 February 2015. The Texas based property owner refused to renew the lease with the restaurant.

California: In El Darado Hills, Green Valley Nursery & Landscape shutdown.  The owners blamed the greedy landlord saying “Lease expired and we must sell all our plants and trees immediately.”  In Palo Alto, Tibco Software laid off 80 people without warning.  It could be connected to their $4.3-billion USD sale to evil Vista Equity Partners.  In Santa Clara, Broadcom issued a WARN saying 60 people will become jobless in March.  In Los Angeles, Kroger issued a WARN saying another one of their Ralph’s grocery stores will shutdown, 70 jobs lost in March.  In Santa Barbara, after six years the Bizerk Costume Store shutdown, the owners blamed the greedy landlord, LYNX,  for giving them a 30 day eviction notice (instead of the required 60). Local news sources say LYNX administrators refused to say why they kicked out their tenant.  Bizerk co-owner says its all about jacking up the rent: “At the rates that are being charged on State Street, I think it’s very possible that a lot of chain store business might be taking a loss. I know someone who is a manager at Abercrombie & Fitch on State Street who said they lose $200-thousand a year…..!”-David Sampanis

Colorado: God refuses to stop Obama Care from forcing ‘his’ Arapahoe County based non-profit Catholic Health Initiative from laying off 15-hundred people across the United States!  A study says a new proposed law could kill 1-thousand oil jobs in The Centennial State.  The proposed law would prevent new petroleum wells from being drilled within 2-thousand feet (609 meters) of residences.   Anybody like flaming water coming out of their faucets, even if it means jobs?

Florida: In Miami, Obama Care forcing Crothall Healthcare to layoff 54 employees.  Obama Care forcing non-profit healthcare provider Florida Blue to eliminate 150 jobs!

Georgia: In Augusta, a Big Lots rip off store on Wrightsboro Road shutdown.  Local news reports say company reps refuse to give a reason.   Could it be that there are already several Big Lots in Augusta?  In Atlanta, special effects motion capture company Giant Studios shutdown and sold off their motion capture rights to Lightstorm Entertainment.  Some Giant Studios employees will transfer to Lightstorm’s California offices.

Hawaii: Retail store specializing in anything ‘Hawaiian’ Hilo Hattie shutdown their Kihei store and their Kona store.  Company administrators say they are going to try a new concept of entertainment style retail operations.

Idaho: According to National Association of Counties most recent data eastern Idaho’s Bannock County has failed to make any recovery in the areas of Jobs, Unemployment, GDP or Home Prices since 2008!  Never mind that Bannock County is still assessing the value of homes at tens of thousands of dollars above what they will actually sell for!

Illinois: Chicago based United Airlines revealed it might eliminate 2-thousand jobs despite lower fuel costs!  Administrators want to replace in-house employees with cheap-o contractors.

Indiana: Horse racing gambling company Centaur Gaming announced it is shutting down its off-track Merrillville betting site in March, at least 33 jobs lost.  It’s blamed on the lack of people willing to gamble, the bad economy has resulted in a 50% decline in betting!   Aluminum casting and machining company Harvey Industries revealed they laid off more than 143 people without notice, back in December!  Company administrators would only say “Due to unforeseen business circumstances, we were unable to provide this notice at least sixty (60) days before the layoffs took effect.”

Kentucky: In Louisville, after 18 years Wild and Wooly Video store shutdown, the owner blamed crashing sales ever since 2008.

Nevada: More proof casinos aren’t recession proof; Las Vegas based Caesars Entertainment now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

New Jersey: Pop corn maker Dale and Thomas Growers announced they will layoff 56 people in March, saying they are “transitioning to a co-manufacturing arrangement in Indiana”.  In Manville, God refuses to stop the Diocese of Metuchen from shutting down ‘his’ Christ the King School.  It’s the 11th ‘christian’ school to be shutdown by the Diocese of Metuchen, since 2009.  It’s blamed on raptured, I mean DSS (what I call Disappearing Student Syndrome).

New Mexico: After eight years free magazine Local iQ ceased publication.

New York: In NYC, restaurant The Palm issued a WARN saying they will shutdown (supposedly for remodeling) in April, 43 jobs lost.  Eastman Kodak continues its slow death layoffs, this time at least 16 people will be let go by April.  In Bayport, Wenner Bakery Products issued a WARN saying they’ll shutdown their Parbake Facility by May, 49 jobs lost.

North Carolina: Wishart Norris Henninger & Pittman law firm finally revealed that they shutdown back in December, blaming a dispute with new management.  The city of Charlotte has admitted it can’t pay off $17.8-million owed to Too Big to Jail Bank of America and Wells Fargo for floating the money losing  NASCAR Hall of Fame!  City administrators admit the loan payments are so big that they can’t even “break even”, and are begging the banks to ‘write down’ the loans, kinda like Greece wants to do with the European Union.

Ohio: In Belmont County, after only three years the local Electronic Recycling Services shutdown without warning.  Apparently the property is being sold off and electronic recycling operations in the county are being consolidated.

Oregon: Georgia Pacific is laying off 40 people, as part of their three years plan to eliminate at least 100 jobs from their Halsey paper mill.

Pennsylvania: After 25 years Booty’s Place restaurant shutdown in the Church Hill Mall, the owner would only say “No comment.”   In Ashely, after 34 years Clark’s Irish Import and Flower Shop shutdown.  The owners blame crashing sales ever since 2008, in other words they haven’t seen any ‘recovery’.

Tennessee: In Somerville, God refuses to stop Obama Care from forcing ‘his’ Methodist Healthcare from shutting down by March.

Texas: The Wall Street Journal warns that Fort Worth based iconic RadioShack is about to go bankrupt busted and will be sold off.  Obama Care forced Harris Health System (formerly Harris County Hospital District) to kill off 260 jobs!  Administrators blamed Obama Care for causing them to lose $70-million!  Houston based infamous Halliburton began another round of layoffs, but don’t blame falling oil prices, it’s because of their takeover of rival Baker Hughes.  In December Halliburton said they would eliminate 1-thousand jobs!

Wisconsin: The South Shore YMCA in Cudahy shutdown.  The greater YMCA of Metro Milwaukee blames it on massive debts.  In Wisconsin Rapids, after 43 years The Gift Tree shutdown.

09-12-January-2015: Obamacare insurance exchange fails, shutsdown!

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 09 – 12 January 2015: “It was a struggle & we took it as far as it could go.” Obamacare insurance exchange fails, shutsdown! Expensive model kits killing off hobby shops!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: In Duarte, France based food services and facilities management Sodexo issued a WARN saying they will shutdown by March, 160 jobs lost!  Redwood City based internet ‘workspace’ company Evernote announced layoffs, the first round saw 20 people in Texas, and globally, become jobless.  More will follow.  Ironically company administrators claim they’re hiring!  In San Francisco, video game maker Kixeye issued a WARN saying 70 people will become jobless in March, however, gaming industry news sources say as many as 100 people have already been laid off!

Florida: In Port Richey, Macy’s issued a WARN saying they will shutdown their Gulf View Square Mall store, 70 people will be laid off by the end of March.  In Miami, Top of the Port Airport Hotel restaurant shutting down in March, 52 jobs lost.

Massachusetts: After 86 years upscale elitist clothing store Louis Boston shutdown.   Debi Greenberg, the current family owner, said the new long term lease was unacceptable and took it as a sign to retire.

Michigan: After 35 years the Sports Leader store in Taylor shutdown.  The owner blames increasing competition: “It was a big ride and a lot of fun while it lasted.  When I started in this line of work I was one of only three…”-Richard Dvorsky

Missouri: Cargill announced it is shutting down their Springfield meat factory by March, 118 jobs lost! Some employees will be able to move to Nebraska or Texas, if they want to keep their Cargill jobs.

Nebraska: In Lincoln, after nearly 60 years Baker Ace Hardware shutting down in March.  The greedy property owners sold the property to an apartment developer.

New York: In DeWitt, Macy’s issued a WARN saying they will shutdown their Shoppingtown Mall store, 87 people will be laid off by the end of April.  In Schenectady, Macy’s issued a WARN saying they will shutdown their Rotterdam Square store, 90 people will be laid off by the end of April.  In NYC, the Aron Streit bakery issued a WARN saying they will cease production by May.  Williamsville based TOPS Markets (aka TOPS Friendly Markets) announced it will shutdown at least 27 pharmacies in its grocery stores in the states of New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont.

North Carolina: Furniture store Blacklion shutdown its Dilworth store.

Ohio: A Cleveland Noodlecat ramen restaurant shutdown, due to disagreements with the property owner over the lease.

Oregon: Obama Care health insurance exchange operation Cover Oregon announced it will layoff its 62 employees by April, blaming the failure of the exchange program!  “The state abandoned the exchange in April after deciding it was cheaper to switch to the federal site than to fix Cover Oregon……Lawmakers plan to pass a bill dissolving Cover Oregon….”-KTVZ

Pennsylvania: After 80 years, Pennsylvania based female clothing store Deb Shops (aka DEB) went chapter 11 bankrupt busted in December, and is now going to shutdown all 287 stores across the United States by April, nearly 3-thousand jobs lost!  In Saint Clair, after 75 years Johnnie’s Servicecenter shutdown, the pissed off owners blamed the bad economy and competition: “It’s sad, you know? It was a struggle and we took it as far as it could go…….Obviously, we didn’t survive this long just from putting the key in the door!”-Dennis Sninsky

Tennessee: In Harding Pike, after only five years it was announced that the Harris Teeter grocery store will shutdown in February. The store was bought out by competitor Kroger, who already has a store in the same area.  Daikin Industries announced they’re shutting down all their Goodman HVAC factories in Tennessee and moving to Texas by 2017,  at least 19-hundred jobs affected!

Texas: In Sharpstown, after 24 years the Jewelry Exchange Center shutdown, apparently the family is moving the store to Sugar Land.

Virginia: In Roanoke, after 15 years Trapézi Furniture shutdown.  The owners of the store also own the property, and they are now renting it out to a physical therapist.

Wisconsin:  Brookfield based commercial printer Mittera announced it will shutdown their recently acquired J.B. Kenehan operations in March, 56 jobs lost.  After 50 years iconic Greenfield News and Hobby store shutdown.  The store was up for sale, with no luck.   “A lot of kids aren’t picking up these hobbies either because they’re being priced out … or because they’d rather go to online or home video games, and it’s hard to counteract that.”-Jeff Reich, editor of Model Retailer,  Kalmbach Publishing

07-08-January-2015: “We cannot continue…” 1 in 7 being evicted!

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.

Business/Economics, Idaho

Idaho RadioShacks make the closure hit list! 1784 stores across the U.S. to close!

07 February 2015 (00:00 UTC-07 Tango 01)/17 Rabi ‘ath-Thani 1436/18 Bahman 1393/19 Bing Yin (12th month) 4712

It’s official, six (of approximately 24) Gem State RadioShack stores will be shutdown, pending a bankruptcy sale to cell phone service company Sprint.

Idaho shutdown list:

152 Bullock #4, Chubbuck
Elm Tree Plaza Suite 101, Meridian
Nampa Business Center, Nampa
733 Yellowstone Ave, Pocatello
3134 E Mullan Ave Ste A, Post Falls
Valley River Center, Rexburg

RadioShack has made public a massive list of 1784 stores across the United States that will be shutdown, called Radio Shack Exhibit 1A, B & C  First, Second & Third Tranche Stores. 

Radio Shack bankrupt busted & dying!

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 07 – 08 January 2015: “We cannot continue…” “We’ve been losing money.” 10-thousand+ job cuts announced! Massive Macy’s & JCPenney shutdowns! Automobile warranties killing off independent autoshops! 1 in 7 being evicted!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alabama: British empire Canada owned Cinram Operations shutdown its recently acquired Cottonwood factory without warning, at least 100 jobs lost!  Cinram bought the factory from Japan owned JVC in 2014.

Alaska: The city of Sitka is so broke they are tearing up their paved roads and using gravel, because they can no longer afford to maintain paved roads!

California: Foothill Ranch based Wet Seal said Happy New Year by unleashing their “Store Project” operation which will shutdown 338 stores and render about 37-hundred (3,695 according to the press release, that about half its employees) people jobless in 2015!  In Pacoima, Brice Manufacturing (aka China based HAECO Americas, formerly known as TIMCO Aviation Services) issued a WARN saying they will shutdown seat manufacturing in March, 61 jobs affected.  In Stockton, ASCO Power Tech issued a WARN saying they will shutdown in April, at least 104 jobs lost! In Woodland, Genco issued a WARN saying they will shutdown in March, 50 jobs lost.  Rabobank issued a WARN saying it will shutdown its Imperial office in March, 79 jobs lost.  Australian owned unfair and unbalanced Fox Networks Group will layoff 75 advertising sales reps when they consolidate their broadcast and cable sales departments.  In Glendale and La Crescenta, after almost 70 years Pedrini Music announced it will shutdown both stores in Febraury.  In East Sacramento, after four years Clark’s Corner Bar & Restaurant shutdown without notice.  Local news said only that there were no plans to re-open.

Connecticut: What automotive industry recovery? In Greenwich, after more than 15 years Karl Automotive Service shutdown.  The owner blamed the skyrocketing rent, costs of repairing vehicles and radical changes in factory vehicle warranties: “…the nature of the business has changed significantly in that manufacturers have become more proprietary with their electronics and technology, so we were looking at realistically an investment of another $50,000 to $100,000 in capital for new diagnostic tools!”-Karl Chevrolet

Florida: Jacksonville based women’s ‘clubbing’ clothing chain store Body Central went bankrupt then suddenly decided to shutdown all 265 stores in the United States, 2-thousand 5-hundred jobs lost!

Georgia: Atlanta based iconic Coca-Cola announced it will add another 18-hundred job cuts to the previously announced 2-thousand!

Illinois: What automotive industry recovery? Heavy vehicle maker Caterpillar continued job culling, this time in Decatur and Peoria. 220 people became unemployed due to crashing sales to the mining industry (which includes the oil industry, oil is mined out of the ground)! Iconic McDonald’s announced it will kill off 63 jobs at its Oak Harbor HQ in February. Burger joint administrators admitted that their sales sucked ass for the past 13 months. And administrators of McDonald’s Japan are reeling from crashing sales caused by food shortages, which in turn are being caused by a strike by dock workers on the U.S. west coast which has halted U.S. potato shipments to McDonald’s Japan, and food sabotage (strange things being found in the food).

Indiana: General Mills announced they will shutdown their New Albany Pillsbury frigerated food factory by 2016, at least 400 jobs lost! Company administrators said they have “excess capacity”. That’s corporate speak for too much supply and not enough demand for their products (aka a suck ass economy).

Maine: Bath Iron Works laid off 48 ship builders, due to lack of work.

Michigan: In Ann Arbor, after only 17 months Dancing Dog Gallery shutdown, the owners simply said “We’ve been losing money.”  They explained that their rent, alone, was $5-thousand per month!  What housing market recovery?  In Detroit, “One in seven Detroit residents is threatened with eviction due to tax foreclosure in 2015, according to data compiled by Loveland Technologies.”!!!!!!!

Montana: In Missoula, after 41 years Curley’s restaurant was shutdown and sold off. The manager told local news that the reasons for the sale are private.

New York: In Pomona, Israel based Teva Pharmaceuticals issued a WARN saying they started laying off employees back in December 2014, and it will continue until March 2015.  In Irving, TLC Health Network/Lake Shore Health Care Center issued a WARN saying Obama Care forcing them to shutdown their long term care ops in April, 70 jobs lost.  In Flushing, Spirit Airlines issued a WARN saying they will layoff at least 29 employees in April.  Company administrators are trying to save money by contracting out those jobs.

Ohio: After 34 years Olga’s Kitchen shutdown their Franklin Park Mall store. Cincinnati based Macy’s department store has announced new shutdowns for 2015. At least 14 stores to be shutdown and as many as 2-thousand 5-hundred people to be rendered jobless! In Akron, Coming Attractions Bridal & Formal shutdown.  The pissed off owner blames it on bad publicity after a Texas nurse infected with ebola stopped in: “We had a big opening and we had hoped that the publicity may even have been a good thing, but now we are the Ebola Shop. Customers are tired of hearing ‘Oh, you bought it at the Ebola Shop.‘”-Anna Younker to the Northeast Ohio Media Group

Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh based Education Management shutdown all its Art Institutes across the U.S., killing at least 225 jobs!  Education Management is in big trouble with the federal Department of Education for basically bribing students and violating other federal education laws.  It’s been revealed that the Amazon distribution center near Crafton is now for sale by the property owner, Rugby Realty, who refuses to explain why.  In East Liberty, Notion Restaurant shutdown without notice and is now for sale, despite making the local list of 25 best restaurants.   Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust announced they are selling off their Washington Crown Center and Uniontown Mall.   The evil REIT already sold off $191.7-million worth of commercial property in 2014!

South Carolina: A Piggly Wiggly grocery store shutting down in Summerton. But don’t blame competition, it’s the only grocery store in town! It’s a result of the massive shutdown of Piggly Wiggly stores across the United States.

South Dakota: In Sioux Falls, ‘fair trade’ store Ten Thousand Villages shutdown.  Apparently ‘fair trade’ doesn’t sell, but the owner blamed “location”.

Texas: Plano based JCPenney announced at least seven more store shutdowns, two in South Carolina, three in Ohio, at least one in Illinois and in New York for 2015. The South Carolina stores will be shutdown at the beginning of March. The Illinois, New York and two of the Ohio stores will close in April. A third Ohio store will close in May.  One report says more stores will be shutdown and 2-thousand 2-hundred jobs will be affected! Dallas based Southwest Airlines ended their AirTran flights from Milwaukee to Atlanta and Atlanta to Tampa.

Virginia: What automotive industry recovery? In Salem, Japan owned Yokohama Tire laid off 31 people and cut Friday work hours down by two.  Does this have anything to do with the fact that Yokohama was bribed with $130-million in tax incentives to build a new factory in Columbus, Mississippi?

Washington: After 20 years Seattle based Zombie Studios shutdown.  The video game maker even worked with the U.S. Army to create video games to train soldiers.

Wisconsin: In Glendale, women’s clothing shop Lise & Kato’s shutdown. Here’s what the pissed off owners had to say: “The retail industry, both locally and nationally, has dramatically changed in the last decade. We cannot continue the type of business we have proudly had for these many years: Fair and honest pricing, quality merchandise from principled artists and responsible designers, and attentive customer service. The economic climate, changes in shopping habits, and the transition to an online and mass merchant dominance have all contributed to the closing.”

04-06-January-2015: Individuals flee New York en masse!

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.

Business/Economics

Staples takes over U.S. Postal Service? Staples takes over Office Depot, 1-thousand closings to follow!

05 February 2015 (11:15 UTC-07 Tango 01)/15 Rabi ‘ath-Thani 1436/16 Bahman 1393/17 Bing Yin (12th month) 4712

After shutting down dozens of stores OfficeMax has sold off Office Depot, and not even for cash!  Mitt Romney wunderkind Staples is the new owner of Office Depot after trading $6.3-billion USD worth of stocks for it!  Reports say 1-thousand stores will be shutdown!

The American Postal Workers Union is challenging the sale, calling it “monopolistic and unlawful”.  The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) recently signed a deal with Staples to contract out your local Post Office jobs to Staples!  The administrators of the USPS admitted the contracting out of postal jobs is to greatly reduce pay and eliminate benefits.

Office Depot joins shutdown gang

Staples ups the ante

24/7 Wall St reporting that eight retailers will close more stores in 2013: Best Buy, Sears Holding (Kmart and Sears stores), JCPenney, Office Depot, Barnes & Noble, Gamestop, Office Max and RadioShack. 

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 04 – 06 January 2015: Individuals flee New York en masse! CAD & AUD killing U.S. oil jobs, not the drop in oil prices! Secret RadioShack shutdowns? You know the economy is bad when Walmart starts shutting down! Obamacare kills 1-thousand+ jobs in Idaho!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alabama: After 38 years the Robert Moore & Co. Christmas Town in Mobile shutdown.  Back in August 2014 the co-owners said their health was not so good and they better quit while they’re ahead.

Alaska: The U.S. Census Bureau reports 10,137 people left the state from July 2013 to July 2014!

California: The U.S. Census Bureau reports a net of 32,090 people left the state from July 2013 to July 2014!  In Turlock, MedicAlert laid off 31 employees, blaming crashing sales.  In Santa Ana, ITT Cannon issued a WARN saying at least 12 people will be laid off in March.  Southern California Edison continues job culling, this time their latest WARN says they will shutdown their San Clemente office, rendering 45 people jobless in March.   RadioShack issued a WARN saying they will shutdown their Woodland distribution center, 57 jobs lost in March.  Also in Woodland, it’s been revealed that Mitt Romney’s wunderkind Staples shutdown.

Connecticut: In New Haven, the Anchor Bar shutdown without notice, local reports say employees were ordered not to say anything to the news media.   The U.S. Census Bureau reports at least 2,664 people left the state from July 2013 to July 2014!  Fairfield based GE (General Electric) canceled Obama Care health insurance for any retired employee who is younger than 65 years!   A judge recently allowed GE to kick all its 65-thousand retirees off of company health insurance and onto expensive private Obama Care insurance!  Obama Care being blamed for the demise of Waterbury Hospital.  Administrators say they are losing $9.7-million USD because of Obama Care, layoffs are imminent and they are now trying to sell the hospital!  Four other non-profit hospitals are up for sale as well!

Hawaii: The U.S. Census Bureau reports a net of 5,141 people left the state from July 2013 to July 2014!  Kayak tour company Kohala Ditch Adventures shutdown, blaming damage to flumes caused by bad weather, and citing the expiration of their operating lease.

Idaho: Virginia based Obama Care call center operator Maximus confirmed they will shutdown their Boise call center beginning in February, rendering 1500 people jobless!  According to state WARN records, Maximus was planning to shutdown back in April 2014.

Illinois: The U.S. Census Bureau reports a net of 94,956 people left the state from July 2013 to July 2014!

Indiana: CVS Pharmacy issued a WARN saying they will shutdown the Coram Enteral Nutrition Center in February, at least 124 jobs lost!

Iowa: What automotive industry recovery? Tire maker Bridgestone laid off 65 employees at their Des Moines factory, blaming crashing sales.

Kentucky: In Louisville, Cunningham’s Restaurant shutdown without warning, 30 jobs lost.  The property is for sale, but the current lease is good until 2022.  Gatti’s Pizza shutdown their Westport Village Gattiland restaurant, the owners blamed the greedy landlord: “The lease is expiring, and after months of attempting to negotiate with the landlord, a satisfactory agreement has not been reached.” 

Maine: Group Home Foundation’s Little River Apparel division laid off 60 people.

Michigan: After only five years Just Baked cupcake shop shutdown ten of its Detroit metro area stores!  Wayne County announced a 5% salary reduction for new ‘appointees’.  The county is trying to cut $1.2-million from their budget.  In Dexter, after more than 40 years Huron Camera shutdown, about nine jobs lost.  In Grand Rapids, after 14 years Louis Benton Steakhouse shutdown with a one day notice, 35 jobs lost.  It sounds like the landlords have other plans for the property.

Minnesota: Obama Care taxes forcing medical device maker Greatbatch to move 175 jobs from their Plymouth factory to Mexico!   In Wrenshall, family owned One Stop Market shutdown. The owner blames a new unAmerican corporate America competitor for costing him big losses, just in December: “Their advertising, their marketing, free milk, and 99 cent butter….It just kills these little businesses, little towns…..we’re losing everything that we have as a family…”-Chad Pfau, now legally bankrupt

New Jersey: After 14 years the Granville Millinery Company shutdown.  The owner said she was starting a new career.

New Mexico: The U.S. Census Bureau reports a net of 14,154 people left the state from July 2013 to July 2014!

New York: The U.S. Census Bureau reports 153,921 people left the state from July 2013 to July 2014!  This puts New York in the number one spot for mass exodus.  In Long Island, advertising tracking company Market Track issued a WARN saying they will shutdown by September 2015, at least 225 jobs are being moved out of state!  Yet another women’s clothing store going down as C.Wonder issued a late WARN saying they already shutdown their NYC store, 75 jobs lost with no warning. C. Wonder administrators also admitted “Due to the highly competitive nature of the current retail environment, C. Wonder will be closing its remaining stores.”  The clothing retailer will operate on the internet from now on.  You know the economy is bad when Walmart starts shutting down!  Walmart issued a WARN saying they will shutdown their huge two story Massapequa store in March, at least 295 jobs lost! The WARN blames the bad economy.  In Brooklyn, upscale The Guild for Exceptional Children preschool shutdown, 81 jobs affected.  In Queensbury, RadioShack shutdown their Aviation Mall store without warning, the closure was discovered by loyal customer Don Lehman who is now pissed off. In Albany, Taste (formerly Dale Miller) restaurant is being sold off.  Local news reports say it was never financially stable.  Too Big to Jail investment company NSB Advisors now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and being sold off.  After 58 years the Cheektowaga AMF Thruway Lanes bowling alley shutdown.  The property was sold to a car dealer.

Ohio:  After eight years The Greene’s Adobe Gila’s restaurant shutdown without notice, 40 jobs lost.  Local news reported that restaurant mangers/owners would not answer their phones.  Hyde Park restaurant Ash American Fare shutdown.  The owner said he is focusing on his other businesses.  In Lorain, U.S. Steel announced they will layoff 614 people between March and May, blaming crashing orders from the oil industry!

Texas:  Switzerland based deep water oil drilling company Transocean scrapped seven of their drilling ships! Company administrators say “As the company continues to evaluate the long-term competitiveness of its fleet, additional rigs may be identified as candidates for scrapping.”   They also plan massive layoffs of employees.  The decision to start scrapping deep water rigs was made back in November, before the oil price drop.  Company administrators warned their investor back then that there was a too much oil on the market.  In Houston, U.S. Steel announced they will layoff 142 people by May, blaming crashing orders from the oil industry!  Houston based oil industry company Civeo (who is supposedly relocating to Canada) laid off between 30% and 45% of employees in Canada and United States!  However, they are not blaming the drop in oil prices, they blame the declining value of the Canadian (CAD) and Australian (AUD) dollars!  Company administrators say things started getting bad before the oil price drop: “As it became evident during the fourth quarter that capital spending budgets among the major oil companies were going to be cut, we began taking steps to reduce marketed room capacity, control costs and curtail discretionary capital expenditures.”-Bradley Dodson, President and CEO

Utah: The U.S. Census Bureau reports 1,235 people left the state from July 2013 to July 2014!

West Virginia: The U.S. Census Bureau reports 3,269 people left the state from July 2013 to July 2014!  Oil drilling contractor Antero Resources laying off 250 land brokers (industrial real estate agents), and focusing on drilling for oil only!  Company administrators blame crashing natural gas prices.

01-03-January-2015: Chick fil-A kills Macaroni Grill in secret deal!

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.

Business/Economics

Sears & Kmart closing update, 04 February 2015: Public officials shop at Kmart with your tax dollars! More ignorant employees shocked by new shutdowns!

“Ms. Hilchey decided the public should subsidize not only her utility bills but also her Kmart shopping…”-Thomas P. DiNapoli, New York State Comptroller

The number of crimes being committed at Kmarts are on the rise, most notably are thefts of jewelry and tools, and bomb threats (the most recent was in Santa Fe, New Mexico).  But here’s a new one; county administrators using taxpayer money to shop at Kmart!

The former Genesee County, New York, fire department treasurer has been sentenced to repayment of thousands of local tax dollars and three years probation after being caught using taxpayer funds to pay her personal bills and go on a shopping spree at Kmart.  She’s also accused of stealing money from the county Mother’s Day raffle.

Investigators say the treasurer was able to set up direct withdrawals from county accounts into her own account.  The investigation revealed the county fails to keep track of taxpayer funds involving the fire department (basic bookkeeping)!  I don’t think a sentence of repayment and probation is enough when it comes to public administrators stealing taxpayer dollars.

Upscale clothing seller Lands End (spun off from, but still owned by Sears Holdings) has hired a new Chief Executive Officer; Federica Marchionni.

Marchionni has served only three years as CEO of upscale clothier Dolce & Gabbana, however, she supposedly worked for the company for 13 years, starting in 2001.  Interestingly an internet ‘bio’ says she started out in the telecommunications industry, and was a Senior Vice President with Ferrari for a short time.  She claims she will take Lands End “into new markets”.   Lands End warned that it looks like its 2014 holiday sales fell 3% to 5%, compared to 2013.

Illinois losing yet another Kmart, in April.  The Chicago-Wicker Park area Kmart is rumored that it will be replaced by a Lowe’s home improvement store.  Lowe’s already has dozens of stores in the Chicago area.   Lowe’s apparently paid Sears Holdings in order to take over the Wicker Park Kmart lease, but will not set up shop until 2016.

In Connecticut, a Sears Appliance & Hardware being shutdown in March, when the lease expires.  Apparently the news was announced by the property manager.   Ignorant employees were shocked: “We don’t know anything about it, which is kind of silly because we work here. It’s our income. If they are pulling the rug out from under us we need to know.”-George Devendorf, who doesn’t seem to understand that the whole concept of “pulling the rug out from under” requires that the victims don’t know about it

It’s finally official, the last remaining Saginaw, Michigan, Kmart (on Gratiot Road) is shutdown for good.  It closed a year ago, supposedly temporarily, after its roof collapsed during a snowstorm in January 2014.

update, 30 January 2015: Sears makes money renting out space

Here’s the updated list of U.S. Sears/Kmart store closings that I’ve been compiling since the end of 2011:

Arizona: Scottsdale Sears/Great Indoors, Chandler Sears/Great Indoors.

Alabama: Gadsden Kmart (50 jobs lost), Mobile Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Auburn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Anniston Kmart (no word yet on how many jobs lost), Birmingham Eastwood Kmart (70 jobs lost), Decatur Mall Sears (91 jobs lost), Fort Payne Kmart, Northport Kmart (68 jobs lost), Dothan Sears (68 jobs lost), Huntsville Kmart (73 jobs lost).

California: El Monte Sears (at least 40 jobs lost. Damien Arrula, El Monte’s economic development director, said the store manager had lied about what was going on: “The general manager of the store had just indicated to me that they were remodeling.”), two San Diego Sears (more than 80 jobs lost), Pleasant Hill Kmart (more than 50 jobs lost), Torrance Kmart, Fairfield Kmart (63 jobs lost), Lampert owned OSH taken over by Lowe’s home improvement in bankruptcy court, at least 17 of 99 stores to be closed down (935 jobs lost!), Rancho Cordova Kmart (97 jobs lost), San Clemente Kmart/Sears/Kmart on Camino de Estrella (58 jobs lost), placed on an official hit list in 2011 the Oceanside Kmart on College Boulevard finally being shut down, Banning Kmart (91 jobs lost) recently revealed that Sears Holdings is still paying rent on the abandoned property, Laguna Hills Mall Sears, San Diego Mid-City Kmart (73 jobs lost), Hemet Kmart (77 jobs lost), Oakland Sears repair center (75 jobs lost), San Mateo Kmart (82 jobs lost to an apartment building connected to public transportation), Hesperia Kmart building sold at a loss to a vulture capitalist REIT, no word on if the Kmart will be shutdown. Customers complain that the Kmart employees have a bad attitude, gee I wonder why? Yuba City Kmart (63 jobs lost), Rocklin Kmart (at least 63 jobs lost, the store had just posted “Now Hiring” signs), San Leandro Kmart (102 jobs lost), San Jose Mercury News says the El Centro Kmart to shutdown in January, the website Foursquare says the Covina Kmart is now shutdown (other sources say it will shutdown in December), Cupertino Sears and Auto Center (number of employees affected not made public, no WARN filed), somebody posted on yelp* that the Diamond Bar Kmart was shutting down in December (confirmed by Armijo Newspapers), Westfield Topanga Sears (122 jobs lost), it looks like the Blythe Kmart is being slowly shutdown despite denial by Sears Holdings.

Colorado: Broomfield Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Glenwood Springs Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lone Tree Sears/Great Indoors, Longmont Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Pueblos’ South Side Kmart (52 jobs lost), Denver Kmart (number of jobs lost have not been made public at this time, but could be at least 40), Colorado Springs Kmart at Powers and Palmer Park boulevards (57 jobs lost), Fort Collins Sears (67 jobs lost), Denver-Cherry Creek North Sears store & Auto Center (66 jobs lost).

Connecticut: Waterbury Big Kmart, Torrington Kmart (73 jobs lost), Enfield Sears Optical (no word on jobs lost), recently revealed Wallingford Sears Appliance & Hardware (employees say the shutdown was a surprise, I guess they don’t read Blind Bat News).

Delaware: Dover Kmart (at least 72 jobs lost, some reports said 100), Seaford Sears (30 jobs lost), Claymont Kmart (87 jobs lost).

Florida: Fernandina Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Callaway Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Orange City Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Deland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Stuart Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), West Palm Beach Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Port St. Lucie Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Crystal River Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), New Smyrna Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint Augustine Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Pompano Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jacksonville Kmart on 5751 Beach Boulevard (71 jobs lost), second Kmart in Jacksonville on 4645 Blanding Boulevard (83 jobs lost), Ocoee Sears (102 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on Airport Boulevard closed in 2011, Pensacola Kmart on Mobile Highway closed in February 2013 (69 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on East 9 Mile Road will close in May (73 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost), Bonita Springs Kmart (67 jobs lost), Mount Dora Kmart (100 jobs lost), Lake Mary Kmart, Panama City Beach Kmart (54 jobs lost), Winter Park Kmart (100 jobs lost), Niceville Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winter Haven Kmart (92 jobs lost), Palm Bay Kmart, Oakland Park Kmart (112 jobs lost), Clearwater Sears Auto Center (21 jobs lost), Zephyrhills Kmart (70 jobs lost), Winter Springs Kmart (69 jobs lost), Naples Kmart (72 jobs lost), New Port Richey Kmart (58 jobs lost), ‘redevelopment’ of Aventura Sears & Auto Center into an “open-air village” (unknown how many jobs affected), Kmart on Northeast 108 Street being annexed by Miami Shores, Sears Holdings threatens to shutdown Kmart as a result of higher local taxes.

Georgia: Macon Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Buford Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Douglasville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Atlanta Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Columbus Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jonesboro Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Cartersville Kmart (74 jobs lost), Hiram Kmart (53 jobs lost), Marietta-East Cobb Kmart, Warner Robins Kmart (77 jobs lost), Coweta County Kmart distribution center (164 jobs lost).

Guam: Sears Hometown Store.

Hawaii: Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost! GGP spending $573-million chopping it up into smaller store spaces), Kauai Sears (41 jobs lost), Iwilei-Honolulu Kmart for lease (no confirmation of store closing).

Idaho: Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Rexburg Kmart (63 jobs lost), Chubbuck Pine Ridge Mall Sears shutdown by the end of October/beginning of November 2014 (the remaining 28 jobs lost). Across the street, in Pocatello, the property where the Kmart is located has a “pad site available” sign, posted ever since the Kmart bankruptcy. The Kmart building takes up most of the ‘pad’. Latest news from inside sources say Sears Holdings will not comment on any plans to expand the small amount of Craftsman products already being sold at the Kmart, or shift the Kenmore products line, from the closing Chubbuck Sears to the Pocatello Kmart. In fact all plans for the Pokey Kmart are in a ‘holding pattern’.

Illinois: Alton Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Melrose Park Sears parts and repair center (50 jobs lost), Zion Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Lawn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), McHenry Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Peru Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lombard Sears/Great Indoors (at least 40 jobs lost), Fairview Heights Kmart (81 jobs lost), Freeport Kmart (45 jobs lost), Pontiac Kmart (more than 47 jobs lost), Homer Glen Kmart (82 jobs lost), Streator Kmart (45 jobs lost), Lombard Kmart (70 jobs lost), Naperville Kmart (98 jobs lost), Calumet Sears (164 jobs lost), two Sears stores in Grand Crossing area of Chicago (247 jobs lost!), Mount Vernon Sears (68 jobs lost), Moline Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Homewood Kmart (185 jobs lost), Belvidere Kmart (91 jobs lost?) revealed is now a perpetual closing sale Kmart At A Discount store, Champaign’s Market Place Mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (60 jobs lost), Montgomery Kmart (81 jobs lost), Mattoon Sears (more than 40 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North State Street (160 jobs lost), Chicago Sears Craftsman Experience store, Galesburg Sears (46 jobs lost), White Lake Township Kmart (42 jobs lost), Orland Park Sears Appliance, Collinsville Kmart (84 jobs lost), Crystal Lake Kmart (at least 77 jobs lost), Danville Sears store & Auto Center (63 jobs lost), Forsyth Sears store & Auto Center (45 jobs lost), Peoria Kmart (73 jobs lost), Forest Park Kmart (107 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North and Harlem avenues, supposedly it’s being replaced (most likely at taxpayer expense) with a new building and it will become a Sears-Mariano’s store, Bloomington Kmart (79 jobs lost), Hoffman Estates Headquarters 100 jobs eliminated, another 15 corporate jobs eliminated elsewhere, recently revealed Chicago-Wicker Park Kmart (106 jobs lost). 58 Chicago area stores up for lease or sale. By the way, Illinois elected officials gave Sears Holdings/Hoffman Estates a $150 million USD tax break to keep their headquarters in the state. The tax break was not tied to any promise not to close stores.

Indiana: Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Sears (49 jobs lost), South Anthony Kmart (70 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on South Anthony Boulevard (70 jobs lost), FairOaks Mall Kmart, Logansport Sears (43 jobs lost), Muncie Kmart (59 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on Coliseum Boulevard North (69 jobs lost), Decatur Kmart (49 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart on Madison Avenue (131 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart on Washington Street (139 jobs lost), Bedford Kmart (62 jobs lost), Indianapolis (Evansville) Sears & Auto Center at Washington Square Mall (91 jobs lost), Greenwood Kmart (78 jobs lost), Plymouth Kmart (“approximately” 68 jobs lost).

Iowa: Cedar Rapids Kmart on 16th Ave (at least 40 jobs lost), Davenport Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Burlington Kmart (50 jobs lost), Coralville Sears (94 jobs lost, this is a store sold to GGP earlier in the year), Cedar Rapids Kmart on Collins Road NE (56 jobs lost), Mason City Kmart (50 jobs lost), Clive Kmart (at least 49 jobs lost), Ames Kmart (44 jobs lost), Fort Dodge Sears (no job loss numbers made public, yet. The Auto Center was secretly shutdown in September).

Kansas: Lawrence Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Merriam Kmart-then Sears-then Kmart (jobs lost unknown), Wichita Sears store & Auto Center (103 jobs lost), Manhattan Sears & Auto Center (number of jobs lost were never revealed).

Kentucky: Middlesboro Sears (in September 2012 the Sears store re-opened under independent ownership, official grand re-opening scheduled for November), Winchester Kmart (back in May, Rankin Paynter bought out what was left of the inventory and gave it to charity), Hazard Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lexington Fayette Mall Sears (114 jobs lost!), Newport Kmart (81 jobs lost), Cannonsburg Sears and Sears Auto Center (no employee info given), Louisville Dixie Highway Kmart/Sears/Kmart, Madisonville Kmart (39 jobs lost), Owensboro Sears store & Auto Center (52 jobs lost).

Louisiana: Slidell Sears (77 job lost), Gretna Kmart (94 jobs lost), Metairie Kmart secretly sold off, no word if it will be shutdown.

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost), Presque Isle Aroostook Centre Mall Sears (63 jobs lost), Aroostook Centre Mall Sears Auto Center leased out to VIP Tires & Service.

Maryland: Ellicott Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Gaithersburg Sears/Great Indoors, Landover Sears rebuild & call center (115 jobs lost), Baltimore Kmart on Wabash Avenue (107 jobs lost).

Massachusetts: North Reading Sears Hardware store closed, lease not renewed, Milford Kmart (80 jobs lost), Kingston Kmart (73 jobs lost).

Michigan: Novi Sears/Great Indoors, Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials, Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart, Woodhaven Kmart, Saginaw Kmart on Bay Road, Flint Kmart on Dort Highway (46 jobs lost), Gaylord Kmart (48 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (58 jobs lost), Bloomfield Township Kmart and Sears, Bad Axe Kmart (61 jobs lost), Ypsilanti Township Kmart (83 jobs lost), Petoskey Kmart (45 jobs lost), Saint John’s Kmart (48 jobs lost), White Lake Township “Store of the Future” Kmart (42 jobs lost), Grand Blanc Kmart (49 jobs lost), Lapeer Kmart (56 jobs lost), Southgate Kmart (155 jobs lost), Detroit’s Telegraph Road Kmart (115 jobs lost), Waterford Township Sears (no word on how many jobs lost), Rochester Hills Kmart (77 jobs lost), ‘perfect Kmart town’ of Port Huron Kmart (188 jobs lost), Flint Kmart on Miller Road (81 jobs lost), Burton Kmart (85 jobs lost), Madison Heights Kmart (179 jobs lost), it’s now official the last remaining Saginaw Kmart (on Gratiot Road) will remain shutdown after its roof collapsed during a snowstorm back in January 2014 (Sears Holdings claims only 18 people worked there at the time of the collapse!), Ann Arbor Kmart (59 jobs lost), Iron Mountain Kmart (54 jobs lost), Bangor Township Sears aka Bay City Mall Sears, the Auto Center was already secretly shutdown some time ago (at least 47 jobs lost), Big Rapids Kmart (about 50 jobs lost).

Minnesota: Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart, Bemidji Kmart, Monticello Kmart, GGP owned Sears Auto Center in the Apache Mall closed (10 jobs lost), the entire Sears store in the Apache Mall being sold off, Fergus Falls Kmart (40 jobs lost), Fergus Falls Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Alexandria Kmart (46 jobs lost), Grand Rapids Kmart (61 jobs lost), Seritage is selling off three Sears Auto Centers in Minnetonka, Brooklyn Center and Saint Paul, Marshall Kmart (57 jobs lost), Oakdale Kmart (77 hourly wage employees losing their jobs, unknown how many salaried employees will become unemployed), Winona Kmart (67 jobs lost), Minneapolis city officials trying to shutdown profit making Nicollet Avenue Kmart, to make way for a new road. Anoka Kmart (47 jobs lost), Blaine Kmart (60 jobs lost), Burnsville Kmart (62 jobs lost), Waite Park Kmart (57 jobs lost), Northeast Minneapolis Sears Hometown & Outlet store now for sale, Coon Rapids Sears Hometown & Outlet store now for sale.

Mississippi: Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line, Gautier Sears (71 jobs lost), Waveland Gulfport Kmart (32 jobs lost), Pass Road Gulfport Kmart (52 jobs lost), Pascagoula Sears at the Singing River Mall, Olive Branch distribution center (unknown how many jobs lost).

Missouri: Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line, High Ridge Kmart (59 jobs lost), Ellisville Kmart (55 jobs lost), Springfield Kmart on South Campbell Avenue (60 jobs lost), South Belt Kmart (64 jobs lost), Florissant Kmart (100 jobs lost).

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost), Great Falls Kmart (closed “until further notice” due to fire, 63 jobs on hold), Great Falls Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost) due to great sales (ironically) the shutdown date has been moved from 07 December 2014 to 23 November, Bozeman Kmart (37 jobs lost).

Nebraska: Grand Island Kmart (55 jobs lost), Omaha Kmart near West Maple Road (50 jobs lost).

Nevada: Sparks Kmart distribution center (100 jobs lost).

New Hampshire: Nashau Sears Grand/Essentials, Keene Sears Grand/Essentials, Portsmouth Kmart (30 jobs lost), Claremont Kmart (59 jobs lost).

New Jersey: Lawnside Kmart (about 80 jobs lost), Howell Kmart (57 jobs lost), Berlin Kmart, Dover Kmart (92 jobs lost), Randolf Kmart (91 jobs lost), Paramus Kmart (74 jobs lost).

New Mexico: Las Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost), Albuquerque Kmart on Central SW (80 jobs lost), Rio Rancho Kmart (59 jobs lost).

New York: Lindenhurst Sears Hardware, North Babylon Sears Hardware, Hauppauge Sears Hardware, Depew (Lancaster?) Kmart (68 jobs lost), Colonie Kmart (72 jobs lost), Fulton Kmart (51 jobs lost), Clifton Park Kmart (74 jobs lost), Latham Kmart (61 jobs lost), East Greenbush-Rensselaer Kmart (70 jobs lost), Tonawanda Sears Appliance and Hardware, Bronx Sears (91 jobs lost), BBN reader reported that the Ithaca Sears and Auto Center shutdown and one month later it’s been officially confirmed (at least 37 jobs lost), DeWitt Kmart (92 jobs lost), Auburn Sears (51 jobs lost), Massena Sears and Auto Center (51 jobs lost), Staten Island Mall Sears leased out to Ireland’s Primark.

North Carolina: Cary Kmart (71 jobs lost), High Point Sears, Moorehead Sears, Rocky Mount Sears, Statesville Sears, Durham Kmart (79 jobs lost), Asheville Kmart (53 jobs lost), West Smithfield Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winston-Salem Kmart (69 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (58 jobs lost), South Ashville Kmart on Hendersonville Road, Raleigh Kmart (88 jobs lost), Garner Kmart, Cleveland County mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Charlotte Kmart (89 jobs lost), Conover Kmart (74 jobs lost), Raleigh Kmart on Capital Boulevard (53 jobs lost), High Point Kmart (71 jobs lost), Boone Kmart (41 jobs lost), Greensboro Kmart (96 jobs lost), Gastonia Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost), Kinston Kmart (64 jobs lost), Cary Sears (66 jobs lost), Greensboro Kmart distribution center (130 jobs lost).

North Dakota: Jamestown Kmart (45 jobs lost), Dickinson Kmart (41 jobs lost, despite a “Now Hiring” sign on the front of the store).

Ohio: Chagrin Falls Kmart, Springfield Kmart, two Toledo Kmarts, Medina Kmart, Columbus Kmart, Columbus Sears/Great Indoors, Zanesville Sears (67 jobs lost), Trotwood Kmart (71 jobs lost), Austintown Sears auto parts and service on Interstate Boulevard, London Kmart (no word on number of jobs lost), Trotwood Sears (67 jobs lost), Westlake Kmart/Sears (at least 57 jobs lost), Xenia Kmart (at least 57 jobs lost), Norwalk Kmart (52 jobs lost), Blue Ash Kmart (77 jobs lost), Northwood Sears at Woodville Mall (36 jobs lost), Conneaut Kmart (43 jobs lost), Anderson Township Kmart (71 jobs lost), Brooklyn Kmart (200 jobs lost), Columbus Lockbourne Industrial Parkway Sears distribution center (200 jobs lost), also in Columbus, Sears Product Rebuild-Call Center (112 jobs lost), Marion Sears Auto Center (at least nine jobs lost), Springfield Kmart #3767 (68 jobs lost), Fairborn Kmart (66 jobs lost), Solon Sears & Auto Center (at least 53 jobs lost). Also, Van Wert Sears franchise bought out by Kirk Berryman, owner of Computer & Networking Technologies (CNT), who plans on moving the store to a new location.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City Sears (98 jobs lost, GGP owned, GGP wants a $2 million sales tax rebate, claiming it’s needed to offset capital investments needed to bring the space up to the standards for potential new tenants), Shawnee Sears (31 jobs lost), Sand Springs Kmart (52 jobs lost), Muskogee Sears (60 jobs lost), Enid Sears and Auto Center (at least 38 jobs lost).

Oregon: Roseburg Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Tualatin Kmart Center (new property owner from California is tearing everything down for new shopping center, so far no indication the Kmart will be part of the new shopping center), Milwaukie Kmart (61 jobs lost), Coos Bay Kmart (25 jobs lost), Bend Sears (48 jobs lost), Klamath Falls Kmart (64 jobs lost), Albany Kmart (64 jobs lost), Portland Sears Homes Services (no notice), Albany Sears (57 jobs lost), in October a BBN reader warned that Oregon City Kmart was being quietly shutdown, confirmed on 06 November 2014 by Sears Holdings (70 jobs lost).

Pennsylvania: Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 jobs lost), Shippensburg Kmart (46 jobs lost), Moon Kmart (143 jobs lost), Bethlehem Township Kmart (62 jobs lost), Philadelphia Gallery Mall Kmart (120 jobs lost), Philadelphia Kmart on Orthodox Street and Castor Avenue (169 jobs lost), Levittown/Middle Township Kmart (87 jobs lost), Waynesboro Kmart (43 jobs lost), Sanatoga-Lower Pottsgrove Kmart (65 jobs lost, the store was also advertising for new hires!), West Mifflin Sears store & Auto Center (88 jobs lost), Rochester Kmart (78 jobs lost), Frazer (Pittsburg Mills Mall) Sears and Auto Center (97 jobs lost), Bloomsburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Frackville Sears and Auto Center (84 jobs lost), North Cornwall Township Sears (51 jobs lost), King of Prussia Sears and Auto Center (no word on number of jobs lost), Lebanon Sears (51 jobs lost), Scotland Chambersburg Mall Sears and Auto Center (62 jobs lost), the upper level of the Willow Grove Mall Sears store to be leased by Primark, King of Prussia Sears store leased out to clothing retailer Primark.

Puerto Rico: Vega Baja Kmart (206 jobs lost).

South Carolina: Sumter Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Orangeburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Columbia Kmart on Fort Jackson Boulevard in 2012, Columbia Kmart on Bush River Road in 2009, Columbia Kmart on St Andrews Road (66 jobs lost), Irmo Kmart (no info on how many jobs lost), both Greenville Kmarts (140 jobs lost between the two), Mount Pleasant Kmart (43 jobs lost), Harbison Sears & Sears Auto Center in the Columbiana Centre mall (97 jobs lost), Aiken Sears & Sears Auto Center (at least 54 jobs lost), Inlet Square Mall Kmart (50 jobs lost), West Ashely Kmart (69 jobs lost), Myrtle Beach Kmart (59 jobs lost), Easley Kmart (62 jobs lost).

Tennessee: Antioch Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Cleveland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Ridge Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Morristown Sears (about 70 jobs lost), Clinton South Kmart, Franklin Cool Springs Galleria Sears (92 jobs lost), Memphis Hickory Ridge mall Sears (job loss data not revealed), 48 years old Nashville Kmart on Nolensville Pike to close by January 2014 (57 jobs lost), Franklin Kmart (33 jobs lost), Dickson Kmart (65 jobs lost), talks in progress to end lease for Bellevue (Nashville) Center Mall Sears.

Texas: Two Sears parts and repair centers closing in The Woodlands (117 jobs lost), rebuild center in Garland (58 jobs lost), Farmers Branch Sears/Great Indoors, Houston Sears Great/Indoors, Dallas Sears home appliance parts distribution center (77 jobs lost).

Utah: Murray Sears (for some reason Mormon controlled news media in Utah never reported the closure, but they reported that the building was demolished), Orem Kmart (no details reported), Woods Cross Kmart (54 jobs lost).

Vermont: Rutland Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost).

Virginia: Norfolk Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Midlothian Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lynchburg Sears (84 jobs lost), Fairfax Kmart (no word on how many jobs lost), Christiansburg Sears (59 jobs lost), Norfolk Kmart on East Little Creek Road (77 jobs lost), Manassas Kmart (71 jobs lost), Stafford Sears Hometown, Newport News-Denbigh Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Wise Kmart (58 jobs lost), Harrisonburg Kmart (79 jobs lost), Wincester Kmart (91 jobs lost), Dale City Kmart (69 jobs lost), Chesapeake Sears and Auto Center (82 jobs lost), Front Royal Kmart (88 jobs lost).

Washington: Walla Walla Sears Full line (in August 2012, it was reported that an independent owner of Sears Hometown stores will open a store in Walla Walla), Lacey Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Kelso Sears (47 jobs lost), Lakewood Kmart (59 jobs lost), Bellingham Sears (92 jobs lost), Seattle Kmart (85 jobs lost), East Wenatchee Sears (59 jobs lost), Puyallup Kmart (51 jobs lost), Oak Harbor Kmart (68 jobs lost), Sodo Sears and Sears Auto Center (79 jobs lost), Everett Kmart (65 jobs lost), Marysville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

West Virginia: Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost), Morgantown Kmart (100 jobs lost), Bluefield Sears store & Auto Center (64 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: West Baraboo Sears (at least 40 jobs lost, local village officials say the store generated 3% of local tax collections), Rice Lake Kmart (about 71 jobs lost), Brookfield Kmart (56 jobs lost), Racine’s Regency Mall Sears (52 jobs lost), Fort Atkinson Kmart (51 jobs lost), Greenfield Kmart (107 jobs lost), Portage Kmart (78 jobs lost) and Hales Corner (129 jobs lost), Chippewa Falls Kmart (79 jobs lost), Menomonie Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Ashwaubenon Kmart recently revealed now owned by Green Bay Packers, will be torn down (80 jobs lost), Shawano Kmart (55 jobs lost), Fond du Lac Sears (42 jobs lost), Glendale Sears store & Auto Center (86 jobs lost), Janesville Kmart (70 jobs lost), Glendale Sears Rebuild center (67 jobs lost), Sheboygan Sears & Auto Center (at least 31 jobs lost), Eau Claire Kmart (93 jobs lost), Plymouth Kmart (59 jobs lost before Xmas), Sheboygan Sears Rebuild Center (30 jobs lost).

On top of that, Sears Holdings sold stores to General Growth Properties (GGP), of which it has been reported that most of those stores will be closed.

Here’s the list of 11 Sears stores now owned by GGP:

Iowa: Coral Ridge Mall (it’s official the Sears is closing, see above), and Mall of the Bluffs

Texas: The Woodlands Mall (this does not involve the two repair centers being closed by Sears)

Florida: West Oaks Mall

Utah: Fashion Place, and Provo Towne Centre (note the evil British empire way of spelling town & center. Due to a favorable lease agreement the GGP owned Provo Sears will continue to stay open under Sears Holdings management)

Oklahoma: Quail Springs Mall (it’s official, the Sears closed, see above)

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center (closed, see above)

Washington: Bellis Fair Mall (Bellingham store, see above)

Minnesota: Apache Mall (see update above, GGP will close Sears store by 2014)

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center (see update above, GGP closing store)

Business/Economics

Radio Shack bankrupt busted & dying! Sprint taking over?

04 February 2015 (14:50 UTC-07 Tango 01)/14 Rabi ‘ath-Thani 1436/15 Bahman 1393/16 Bing Yin (12th month) 4712

Reports that 94 years old RadioShack is selling at least half its existing stores, and the most likely buyer is cell phone company Sprint (Amazon is another potential buyer).  It’s part of RadioShack’s bankruptcy which could see the rest of the iconic (but always struggling, I know I worked for them from mid 1989-90 and they were struggling then) electronics stores shutdown.  1-thousand 1-hundred remaining stores and thousands of jobs affected!

On 02 February 2015, the New York Stock Exchange began delisting procedures, basically rendering all stocks in RadioShack worthless.  The delisting might have been the result of RadioShack administrators officially defaulting on a massive multi-million dollar loan from Salus Capital.

There are reports that some store employees were told to drastically cut prices and sell everything, while employees at other stores are reporting they’ve been told nothing.

Radio Shack ups the store closure ante!

Radio Shack will continue closing stores, because it makes them money! 

Sears, Best Buy, RadioShack, JCPenny all going down? 

 

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 01 – 03 January 2015: More British empire Canadian companies killing U.S. jobs! Property owner kills off Barnes & Noble! Chick fil-A kills off Macaroni Grill!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Obama Care will reduce doctor’s Medicaid reimbursements by 52.4%, beginning 01 January 2015!

Too Big to Jail United Bank announced it will shutdown offices in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

California: In Bakersfield, Canada based oil industry company Ensign Energy Services revealed it laid off 700 people back on 15 December 2014!   In Walnut Creek, baseball themed McCovey’s restaurant shutting down. The owners say they are trying to relocate near a real major league baseball stadium, if they can afford the rent.  Boeing issued a WARN saying 23 people in Long Beach will be laid off in March.  Arrogant and bankrupt busted GT Advanced Technologies is now demanding a bankruptcy judge allow millions of dollars in bonuses to be paid to the failed executives of the failed company!   More than 800 jobs were lost when Apple canceled its contract with GT Advanced!  Yogurtland shutdown their Roseville frozen yogurt store, it has something to do with the location.

Florida:  In Plantation, the Fashion Mall chapter 7 bankrupt busted and now up for sale.  The mall has been vacant since 2007!

Illinois: In Chicago, Castle (Excalibur) nightclub shutdown.  After 26 years Soapy’s laundromat being shutdown by greedy property developers.

Hawaii: The Children’s Place clothing store in the GGP owned Ala Moana Center announced it will shutdown in February.  Store administrators say they couldn’t afford to renew the lease.  GGP is spending at least $600-million USD remodeling the Sears store into smaller spaces.  I’ve worked for GGP and know how outrageous their rents are.  They don’t just charge a simple ‘rent’, they can charge for utilities and they also ask for a percentage of sales.

Maryland: In Annapolis, after 44 years Laurance Clothing shutdown.

Michigan: The last two libraries of the Wayne County Library system threatened with shutdown.  The communities of Ecorse and Taylor say they will follow the other former library system members and go independent, in order to save money.

Minnesota: In Saint Paul, Work Out World was evicted by its landlord, for failure to pay rent.  After more than 50 years the White Bear Bowl bowling alley shutdown, due to crashing revenues ever since 2008, and supposedly the property owner sold the land to a nursing home company.  American Bank bankrupt busted and sold off to Deerwood Bank.  Barnes & Nobel shutdown its 20 years old Saint Paul Highland Park book store, not because the store wasn’t making money.  The store was shutdown by the greedy landlord.  Barnes & Noble administrators are looking for a new home: “We are diligently working on a new store offering…There’s nothing immediate. In fact, I can honestly tell you, we have not selected any locations for a new store offering, but we’ll probably look to that by the middle of 2015”-David Deason

Missouri: Texas based Romano’s Macaroni Grill forced to shutdown all their Saint Louis restaurants, and one in Columbia, due to greedy property owner!  Employees had no warning and were all notified on the day of the shutdowns by phone calls!  It turns out the property owner made a secret deal with evil Christian Chick fil-A back in September!  In Kansas City, the County Club Plaza lost three stores: Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor Loft and Pottery Barn Kids.  The Oak Park Mall reports the Ann Taylor store is shutting down.

Montana:  In Billings, the Mongolian Grill shutdown, local news reports say nobody at the restaurant would talk to them.

North Carolina: Vegetable dehydrator McCall Farms of Wilson issued a WARN saying it will shutdown in February, affecting as many as 285 permanent and seasonal jobs by the end of March!  The Carolina Mattress Guild now chapter 7 bankrupt busted and liquidating.  Griggs Properties now chapter 7 bankrupt busted.

Ohio: Perrysburg Township began laying off police, blaming cash strapped taxpayers for rejecting a $3-million police levy in November. In Westerville, service provider for government-sponsored benefits programs such as the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, Medicare and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, Maximus issued a WARN saying 70 people will become jobless due to the failure to win an Obama Care contract.

Oregon: Ochoco Lumber shutdown their 2nd shift at their Malheur Lumber plant, just seven months after starting up the 2nd shift.  About 90 jobs affected.  Administrators admit they overestimated sales.  Ochoco Lumber had also sold off $18.5-million of their land to pay for upgrades to their Malheur Lumber factory.

Tennessee: In Nashville, after 18 years Fiddle & Steel Guitar Bar shutdown.  The property was sold off to a hotel developer.

Texas: In San Antonio, it was announced that a Sprouts grocery store would shutdown in March.  In Rockwell, after only two years in their new location KE Cellars Winery shutdown: “We tried to make it work, but with so many sources of wine all over, road construction, a slow economy and everything Murphy could throw at us, it is just time for us to say we tried.”-owners

Vermont: After 42 years the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant shutdown.

Virginia:  Minnesota based Famous Daves BBQ announced it’s getting the hell outta Richmond!  All three stores already shutdown and the properties are up for sale!  Administrators say their restaurants never made enough money in Richmond.  In Galax, after 91 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Vaughan Furniture shutdown due to crashing sales.

Washington: Biotech company Dendreon chapter 11 bankrupt busted and about to be auctioned off in February.

Wisconsin:  The U.S. Postal Service confirmed it will shutdown four processing centers in the first half of 2015, more than a hundred jobs lost!

30-31-december-2014: “The rent is crazy high here!”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 30 – 31 December 2014: “The rent is crazy high here!” More U.S. job killing by British empire Canada! Honorable U.S. company refuses tax deal after killing jobs!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alabama: After 60 years Graysville Tire Store shutdown.

Arizona: 350 people lost their jobs at the Mineral Park Copper Mine!  The owner of the mine, Canada based Mercator Mineral Park Holdings, went bankrupt in August.  However, administrators for Mohave County are freaking out because there was apparently no warning about any mine shutdown: “In the last 16 years, this is probably one of the biggest layoffs that we will be reacting to for one company.”-Susie Parel-Duranceau, community services director

“It would have been nice if we would have been given some advanced notice, so we could be preparing for it.”-Buster Johnson, county supervisor, explaining to local news that the Canadian company gave them no warning of layoffs

California:  HomeStreet Bank issued a WARN saying they will shutdown their Covina office in February, 66 jobs lost.  In Folsom, after only two years Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill shutdown without explanation.  At Vandenberg AFB, Exilis issued a WARN saying they will layoff 125 people in January 2015!  In Mountain View, once again Symantec issued WARNs saying more people will lose their jobs.

Florida: At Patrick AFB, Exilis issued a WARN saying they will shutdown by April 2015, at least 211 jobs lost!

Pine Ridge Mall food court (The Courtyard), zombified Orange Julius and Mario’s Pizza have finally died off. The obligatory pretzel joint moved to center court. Mrs. Powell’s, Dairy Queen, the corn dog place and others all died within the past few years.

Idaho: In Chubbuck, Mario’s Pizza and Orange Julius announced they will shutdown their Pine Ridge Mall stores in 2015. Local TV station KPVI said company administrators told them the economy was so bad in the Pocatello/Chubbuck area that it wasn’t worth keeping the decades old pizza joint and juice blender open any longer.

Maine: In Farmington, after 159 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Trask Jewelers shutdown.  The current owner, who wants to retire, was unable to find a new owner.

Mississippi: In Jackson, the Bounce Castle in the Westwood Mall shutdown.  The pissed off owners blame the landlords and the bad economy: “The rent is crazy high here! People don’t come in when it’s 70 degrees outside, either. We didn’t have any option……I didn’t know until the first of December. I was still trying to negotiate with the mall.”-Tony Crego

New Jersey: The Spencer’s humorous adult themed gift-shop  announced it will shutdown their Phillipsburg Mall store in January.  In Hoboken, after 78 years Helmers’ Restaurant shutdown. Reports say the German themed restaurant has been in financial trouble ever since a fire in 2006. The property owner has reportedly rented out the space to a new tenant at $15-thousand per month!  Rumors that after 15 years Stanley’s Prime Meat Market shutdown.

New York: In Hauppauge, Olympus issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down their camera repair ops in April 2015, at least 41 jobs lost.  In Hicksville, U.S. Postal Service contractor Pitney Bowes issued a WARN saying between 60 and 85 jobs will be affected by their March 2015 shutdown of their Presort Services.  More Obama Care destruction as mental health service provider The Pederson Krag Centers issued a WARN saying they will shutdown by March 2015, at least 90 jobs lost. In Angola, abrasives maker Flexovit said the collaspe of their roof (by snow storms) forced them to layoff 63 employees.

North Carolina: In Fayetteville, after 57 years Vick’s Drive-In restaurant shutdown by the North Carolina Department of Transportation to make way for the rerouting of the nearby Rowan Street bridge.  In Willmington, Golden Corral all you can eat at the Monkey Junction shutdown without notice on 29 December. Local news reports said company administrators wouldn’t talk to them, but an employee said sales had crashed.

Ohio:  In Lakewood, the World of Beer bar shutdown, apparently with no explanation. In Hilliard, after only two years the Auddino’s Bakery & Cafe on Fishinger Boulevard shutdown. The bakery owners say the property owners didn’t promote the business as promised.  After 118 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) E.T. Paul Tire Company shutdown, ironically by the state Department of Transportation to make way for a new road!

South Carolina: Sears Holdings announced they will shutdown their 40 years old Easley Kmart in January, 62 jobs lost.

Virginia: In Vinton, after 32 years Holden’s Country Store shutdown.  The owner blames bad health.

Wisconsin: Chart Energy & Chemicals laid off 55 people at its La Crosse factory, blaming crashing sales.  The honest company administrators also announced they will not take advantage of a property tax rebate deal recently offered by the city, because it involved expanding operations not laying off employees: “Chart has a long history in La Crosse and we remain committed to the community.”-Jim Fischman, honorable Chart Industries administrator

24-29-december-2014: Coke Kills 2-thousand jobs!

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.