Tag Archives: labor

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 09 – 10 September 2014: 3-thousand jobs gone by Thanksgiving! Obamacare kills the mood as hundreds of U.S. penile dysfunction jobs move to Canada! Hundreds more coal miners now unemployed!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

The Carolinas HealthCare System announced they must kill at least 100 jobs in North and South Carolina by the beginning of 2015,  due to Obama Care!  Reduced insurance payments as a result of the so called ‘Affordable Car Act’ will cause the hospital system to lose at least $110-million USD in their fiscal 2015 year.

California: Yet another video game maker killing jobs, this time Rohnert Park based S2 Games. Administrators admited it was due to “mismanagement” of the company.  In Lancaster, Obama Care killing at least 99 jobs with Antelope Valley Hospital in November.  In Los Angeles, Too Big to Jail Bank of America announced they were laying off an additional five people in November.

Colorado: The Denver International Airport announced 650 ramp and baggage employees will be laid off due to the ending of a contract between United Airlines and SkyWest Airlines!

Florida: What housing market recovery? In Tampa, British empire United Kingdom based Too Big to Jail HSBC announced it will kill 83 mortgage jobs between now and April 2015.  In Boca Raton, an office building worth $23-million is now in foreclosure!  The buyer, who is listed as City National Bank, missed a payment (although they deny it).  It turns out the property was formerly owned by Too Big to Jail Bank of America!

Georgia: In Atlanta, after two years Dough Bakery vegetarian restaurant suddenly shutdown.  No reason given by the owners.

Hawaii: In Honolulu, city administrators announced the end of city trash services in January 2015.  City admin says they cannot afford to  update their trash trucks.  An inept reporter for Pacific Business News actually stated that city trash service is “free”.  Obviously he’s never had to pay a ‘property tax’ bill!

Louisiana: The third best ranked hospital in the Pelican State, Saint Francis Medical Center, announced 300 healthcare workers will become unemployed!  Administrators blamed Obama Care, referring to it as “Major market shifts in the health care industry”.

Massachusetts: Boston based Macworld magazine stopped hardcopy publication. An undisclosed number of employees now unemployed.

New Mexico: In Albuquerque, after only a few months and tens of thousands of dollars in renovations the Azul Burrito shutdown.  The owner blames the city for road construction that literally killed off business by destroying parking.

New Jersey: In Atlantic City, it’s confirmed the Taj Mahal casino shutting down in November,  more than 28-hundred jobs lost!

New York: NYC based producer of crappy entertainment shows like American Idol, Core Media Group (not to be confused with CoreMedia CMS), laid off an undisclosed number of employees including their president.  That Which Cannot be Named is refusing to stop Obama Care from killing 58 mental and physically disabled  healthcare jobs at the  Jewish Board of Family and Children Services.   Forest Laboratories issued a WARN saying it will shutdown ops in Commack, Hauppauge, Farmingdale and NYC.  Mid 2015 has been given as the shutdown date, at least 123 employees affected!  Forest Labs was taken over by Actavis.

North Carolina: Wisconsin based National Tissue Company shutting down their King factory by Xmas, at least 40 jobs lost.  The bad economy is forcing them to consolidate ops.

Ohio: In Cincinnati, after almost six years the owners of the Mainstay Rock Bar announced they will shutdown in October.   There was no official reason, but rumors say the building is being renovated.  Dow Chemical shutting down their 55 years old, and “indispensable” Findlay factory in time for Xmas, 70 jobs lost.  In the 1960s the factory employed 494 people.   The reason for the factory shutdown is that a 2010 state tax incentive expired!  By the way, the same factory also got $2-million in federal tax credits in 2010, however, company administrators say they also spent $7-million upgrading the factory to make chemicals for solar panels.

Pennsylvania: In Robesonia, food distributor Associated Wholesales now bankrupt busted and already selling off its assets.  Apparently Obama Care doesn’t want men having sex as a legal drugs pushing company that makes money off of penis dysfunction, Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, laid off 200 employees!  Company administrators directly blamed the new taxes created by the so called ‘Affordable Care Act’, and warned more layoffs on the way as they are now moving their U.S. operations to Canada!

Tennessee:  What housing market recovery? In Memphis, the Memphis Area Association of Realtors report that home sales have dropped 24.7% from August 2013 to August 2014, but it could be because prices have gone up 11%.  In West Nashville, after 12 years the Hillwood Strike and Spare Family Fun Center was shutdown by the greedy property owner: “Through several attempts to negotiate a new lease on our building, our standing in the community, with our customers and the thousands of lives that are affected with our closing was no match for the money they could make otherwise.”-Larry Schmittou, fun center owner

Texas: Houston based Waste Management is at it a gain.  Reports say a new round of layoffs could hit 700!  It’s blamed on the recent $1.9-billion sale of its failed waste-to-energy operation.

Virginia: At Naval Air Stations Virginia Beach and Norfolk, taxsucking California based military contractor URS warned 208 people becoming unemployed if they lose their contract in October!

Washington DC: The U.S. Air Force revealed they’re laying off 214 junior officers by Xmas!

West Virginia: Struggling Patriot Coal announced an additional 360 coal miners to become unemployed!  In June they laid off 75 coal miners. Back in April they laid off 100 miners!   Company administrators blame it on “The combination of increasing EPA regulations, mild summer weather and low natural gas prices has resulted in thermal coal pricing at levels below operating costs at many Appalachian mines.” They also warned of more layoffs after they conduct a new two month review.

05-08 September 2014

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.

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security…That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013

Business/Economics

Target closes dozen more stores in the United States!

13 November 2014 (01:13 UTC-07 Tango)/20 Muharram 1436/22 Aban 1393/21 Yi-Hai 4712

The Minnesota based discount department store just announced another 11 stores will be shutdown before the end of February 2015.

The new list of store closures will affecte the states of Georgia (Lithonia), Illinois (Calumet, McHenry), Indiana (Castleton), Iowa (Clinton), Kansas (Wichita East), Michigan (Bay City, Monroe, Northland), Minnesota (Austin) and Texas (Carrolton).

In January 2014, Target announced it would close eight stores by May 2014, on top of the four stores shutdown in February.  Target has been shutting down stores since at least 2010. But so far, and despite declining sales and the loss of $148-million USD due to the credit card data theft, Target also continues to manage to open new stores.

List of 2014 Target shutdowns:

Arizona: 28 years old Chandler store closed in February, but apparently a new Target was opened months later just a mile away from the closed one, and there’s a ‘Super’ Target just across city lines in Gilbert.

California: 31 years old Chula Vista store on North Fourth Avenue closed in February (117 jobs lost).  Target administrators decided to shutdown the store based on the future “potential of this specific location…..we’re looking at is longtime performance and potential.”, meaning they don’t see any economic recovery.

Florida: 22 years old Leesburg Lake Square Mall store closed in February (82 jobs lost).  25 years old ‘Super’ (has groceries) Target in Orange Park closed in May (150 jobs lost).  Target officials did not say the store was actually losing money, but “anticipated” that it would in the near future, meaning they don’t see any economic recovery happening.

Georgia: 18 years old Morrow store closed in February (100 jobs lost).  ‘Super’ Target in Duluth closed in May (at least 100 jobs lost).  The biggest complaint from customers was the lack of employees, noting that even on a busy day only three or four of the 25 checkout lanes were open (sounds like the Ammon, Idaho, Target)!

Illinois: West Dundee closed in May (100 jobs lost).  Local reports said the shutdown is a blow to city tax revenues, because Target was in the top five local tax generators (which indicates their sales were good): “We were just getting used to the loss of Best Buy and this is another blow to the village’s finances!”-Dave Danielson, finance director

Nevada: A Las Vegas store closed in May (100 jobs lost) and a store in North Las Vegas (75 jobs lost). Loyal customers were pissed off: “I’m very shocked! This is the first I’ve heard of it. Disappointed and shocked at the same time!”-Randy Day

Ohio: A Middletown Target closed in May, despite a petition with more than 1-thousand customer signatures begging to keep the store open (80 jobs lost). A Trotwood store closed in May, despite petitions with at least 2550 customer signatures begging to keep the store open (90 jobs lost).

Tennessee: A 14 years old Memphis Target on Winchester Road closed in May (100 jobs lost).

Macy’s killing more stores in 2014 than first announced! 

Business/Economics

Sears & Kmart closing update, 12 November 2014: Developers want taxpayers to fund rebuild of abandoned Kmart!

Wisconsin losing a 51 years old Kmart in February 2015.

Speaking of Wisconsin, in Waukesha an abandoned Kmart property is being haggled over by property developers and the city.  The two greedy property developers are demanding the taxpayers fork over $2.6-million USD to help them rebuild the property!  They want $2-million in tax incremental funding up front, and then they want $600-thousand in taxes kicked back to them once the work is done!

update 11 November 2014

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), Cupertino Sears and Auto Center (number of employees affected not made public, no WARN filed).

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).

Connecticut: Waterbury Big Kmart, Torrington Kmart (73 jobs lost), Enfield Sears Optical (no word on jobs lost).

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

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).

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 going’ down in November (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). 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).

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).

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).

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 obvious the last remaining Saginaw Kmart on Gratiot will remain shutdown after its roof collapsed during a snowstorm back in January, 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).

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.

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: 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).

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).

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).

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).

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).

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.

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 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), recently revealed Eau Claire Kmart (93 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

Macy’s killing more stores in 2014 than originally announced!

11 November 2014 (01:11 UTC-07 Tango)/18 Muharram 1436/20 Aban 1393/19 Yi-Hai 4712

In January 2014, somewhat upscale department store Macy’s announced it was shutting down five stores and killing off 25-hundred jobs!   However, a check of actual store closures for 2014 shows more than five stores were/are being shutdown.

It should be noted that Macy’s, like Sears and Kmart, have been shutting down stores for the past few years.  By the way, while shutting down stores in the U.S. Macy’s is opening a massive store in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

In the following list, those stores in bold letters were not on the original list of five store closures published by east coast main stream news sources in January.

Arizona: Mesa Macy’s.

California: Pasadena Paseo Colorado mall Macy’s, 116 jobs lost!  Interestingly this Macy’s was not covered in the list of ‘five’ closures published by east coast news sources, however, California news sources say this store shows the list actually covered six stores.  I wonder why the dominant east coast news sources failed to identify it?   In Cupertino, the Vallco Shopping Mall Macy’s was sold off, no word on if the store will be shutdown by the new owner.

Florida: Bradenton DeSoto Square mall Macy’s, 131 jobs affected!  Macy’s administrators said some of the jobs were being consolidated into another store. 

Kansas: Overland Park Macy’s.

Missouri: Florrisant Macy’s.

New York: Irondequoit Macy’s.

Pennsylvania: West Manchester Township Macy’s, 69 jobs lost. 

Texas: One of two Houston Macy’s (Galleria Macy’s), 136 jobs lost!

Utah: Murray Macy’s.

JCPenney closing more stores in 2014 than first announced!

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 05 – 08 September 2014: “I knew it would be bad, but didn’t know it would be horrid!” Rapture killing off mega-church? China kills U.S. recycling jobs! Taxpayer funded Job Corps Center really a child prison camp? Bad management blamed for job killing!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

British empire owned Canadian Too Big to Jail TD Bank canceled their plans to expand into New York and Massachusetts, on top of that there are reports they’ve quietly shutdown 14 U.S. offices over the past two years!

Arizona:  Navajo Nation Oil and Gas laid off eight people: “Because of decisions by prior management, the company has incurred significant additional costs and must reduce short-term spending.”-Louis Denetsosie, current CEO

California: Beacon Economics reports that Golden State exports of petroleum and coal products dropped by a third in July.  The six county Metrolink is experiencing a crash in riders and revenue.  Local news reports say the administrators of the unreliable public transportation service (aka Metro-Late) raised the price to ride so high that many people found it cheaper and more reliable to buy a car and drive to work!  In Irvine, British empire Australia based insurance company QBE North America warned it will kill 68 jobs in November. What housing market recovery?  Discover Home Loans warned it will kill at least four jobs in November.  In Los Alamitos, Aramark Management Services warned it will kill 51 property-facility management jobs in November.  In Sacramento, Anthem College shutdown, it’s due to Anthem Educations bankruptcy which is linked to federal law violations.   In South San Francisco, legal drugs maker Exelixis warned it will kill at least two jobs in November.  In Oceanside, after more than 11 years road construction killed off Ocean Sky Beads.  The owner said the new road and sidewalks killed off 75% of her business: “I knew it would be bad, but didn’t know it would be horrid! I lost way too much and can’t make a living anymore here.”-Dee Layden

Florida: It was revealed that Reilly’s Westshore Taphouse shutdown “…due to circumstance beyond our control between the city of Tampa and our landlord.”  Kerry’s Nursery lost 51 hectares (128 acres) to foreclosure! The nursery was planning on growing medical marijuana under the recent law, but for some odd reason the state government has yet to approve any applications for growing the potentially money making crop.  A family feud in Palm Beach County threatens to put 906 hectares (2240 acres) and five companies into foreclosure!  It involves the Scardina family.

Illinois: Another women’s clothing op going down.  After six years Le Dress clothing store shutdown, the store owners blamed the landlord for jacking up the rent.

Michigan: In Rochester Hills, the Sweet Spot Candy Shoppe shutdown.  In Detroit, New Center’s University Hotel shutdown.  The hotel was bought in 1987 for $100-thousand USD, but now owes $83-thousand+ in back due taxes! It was foreclosed, but was mysteriously removed from upcoming auction action.

Missouri: In Florissant, after 95 years (surviving the Great Depression and numerous recessions) Yacovelli Restaurant shutdown. In Saint Louis, California based Hamburger Mary’s shutdown due to the landlord losing “…the building in foreclosure, and the bank is now forcing us out in order to sell the building.”

Nebraska: British empire Canada based Agrium laid off 33 people at their fertilizer and feed factory in Fairbury.  They’re shutting down their zinc sulfate ops, local news reports said company administrators refused to say why.

New Jersey: Trump Entertainment Resorts (no longer connected to Donald Trump) now bankrupt busted, for the 4th time!  They’ve already killed off 3-thousand+ jobs this year, and their Trump Taj Mahal is rumored to be the next casino to be shutdown!  Recycler Green Sky Industries shutdown without warning in Clifton, 100+ people now unemployed with nowhere to go!  The company had laid off employees prior to the sudden shutdown.  Administrators would only hint that it was caused by new governmental regulations and the fact that the World’s largest buyer of recyclable trash, China, is no longer buying trash from the U.S.!

Ohio: It was revealed that after 45 years Cooper & Kowalski, Toledo’s 4th largest law firm, began shutdown ops back in July.

Oklahoma: In Tulsa, Reasor’s announced they will shutdown a grocery store within the next two months.  It could be blamed on Reasor’s takeover of two competing Food Pyramid grocery stores.

Pennsylvania:  In Shamokin Dam after 50 years of eats, the owners of Tedd’s Landing restaurant announced they’ll shutdown by November, due to the suck-ass economy.  After 10 years Colorado based Graebel Van Lines shutdown their Pittsburg Leetsdale Industrial Park ops.

Rhode Island: In Providence, the Boston Sports Club exercise joint shutdown.   It’s part of the New York based vulture capitalist owner’s (Town Sports International Holdings) plan to shutdown at least nine fitness centers.

Tennessee: In Memphis, after 70 years Wiles-Smith Drug Store shutdown, the family owners said they can’t compete with ‘big box’ stores.  Bread & Company shutdown their West Nashville restaurant, due to being unable to pay the rent.

Texas: In McKinney, North Texas Job Corps Center shutting down in October, 240 jobs lost! North Texas Job Corps Center sounds like a place to find a job, but local news investigations discovered that people aged 16 to 24 were being abused or doing illegal drugs, and at taxpayer expense! Fluor Federal Solutions killing 79 jobs in October, they’re connected to the evil North Texas Job Corps Center.   What housing market recovery? In Temple, maker of laminate products for homes or business, Wilsonart, laid off 57 people: “Today, Wilsonart International announced that it will eliminate certain positions throughout its North America operations as part of a strategic restructuring.”

Washington:  God really hates the Seattle based mega-church known as Mars Hill.  More job killing as church administrators announced they are consolidating their 15 church operations, and laying off 40% of their employees.  Church leaders blame it on declining attendance, a massive drop of several thousand per week since the beginning of 2014!  I know what happened; the rapture!  And those evil church leaders were left behind!

Wisconsin: Roundy’s shutting down three Pic-n-Save stores, 226 jobs lost in November!

04 September 2014

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.

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security…That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013

Business/Economics

U.S. Food Crisis, August 2014: “We’re about to run out of gas!” “We were shocked!” McDonald’s & Jell-O going down?

Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of August, 2014: Many food suppliers/distributors are consolidating operations and killing jobs due to the collapsing grocery store and restaurant industries, as well as rising costs of food production.

Alabama: In Dothan, after three years Dakota Coffee Works shutdown. The owner blamed skyrocketing costs of operations and crashing sales: “We’re about to run out of gas! Right now it’s doing about 50% of what it needs to do.”-Ron McGhee

California: The new owners of Orange County based 36 years old French restaurant chain Mimi’s Cafe announced they will kill 24 restaurants in Arizona, California, Utah and Florida! Apparently the new hand cut French Fries (which Mimi’s chiefs spent 60 days in France learning how to make!) are so labor intensive that they’re losing money.   In Chatsworth, Switzerland based food producer Nestle issued a WARN saying they were killing 353 jobs in October!  In Santa Barbara, after 40 years the iconic Circle Bar B dinner theater horse ranch shutdown.   In Sacramento, after three years doughnut shop Doughbot shutdown. The two owner-operators said “…these last few years have been…..incredibly difficult. We’re simply burned out.”  In San Diego, Stingaree nightclub warned it will shutdown in November, 111 jobs lost! Owners claim it’s only temporarily, for six months of renovations.  In Laguna Beach, The House of Big Fish and Ice Cold Beer warned it will shutdown by the end of October, 58 jobs lost.   In Cayucos, after more than 20 years highly praised Hoppe’s Garden Bistro shutdown.   In Yuba City, Valley Fine Foods laid off 30 employees. Company officials hope the layoffs will be temporary.  In San Francisco, after 22 years Woodward’s Garden restaurant shutdown. For an unknown reason the lease will not be renewed.

Colorado: In Grand Junction, Graff Dairy shutdown. Local news said employees blame the bad economy for a crash in sales.

Connecticut: In Norwalk, after 30 years Cosmo’s Pizza shutdown. The owners say city construction caused a 60% drop in business!  After 15 years Anna Donte Italian Restaurant shutdown.

Florida: In North Palm Beach, Panama Hattie’s Seafood House shutdown by the County government, 45 jobs lost. County officials say the restaurant failed to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines for numerous code violations.  In Santa Rosa Beach, after only one year Bud and Alley’s restaurant shutdown.  In Miami Beach, another restaurant done in by a greedy landowner. Andreas Schreiner of Pubbelly Restaurant Group said their PB Steak restaurant shutdown because “…the rising costs of real estate would not have allowed us to continue to operate PB Steak without raising our prices, which would go against our commitment to our customers, to be a local, everyday eating establishment.”

Hawaii:  In Honolulu, after only five months Meatball Hawaii restaurant shutdown with little warning by the greedy property owner, the restaurant owner said “Our lease has been bought out. Today is our last day.” 

Illinois: Oak Brook based McDonalds now saying there is no economic recovery! The iconic fast food restaurant told investors that sales are only getting worse! Company officials say their most promising restaurants, in Russia and China, are now under attack by the respective governments, and sales in the U.S. continue to go down!   After 100 years (and surviving the Great Depression and numerous recessions) Jelly Belly Candy laying off 66 employees as the company moves its Illinois operations to California.  In Chicago, Forever Yogurt shutdown two brand new stores! Company officials blame lawsuits from property owners like General Growth Properties (GGP).  Moline based farm equipment maker Deere (formerly known as John Deere) announced they will kill more than 600 jobs in Illinois, Iowa and Kansas! Some inside reports say it’s more like 1-thousand jobs killed! Company officials blame crashing sales.  In River North, after only two years the Tavernita restaurant shutdown, without notice. The owners lost their booze license, and allegedly owe hundreds of thousands in unpaid taxes, although restaurant reps claim the taxes were paid. In Streeterville, after a year of promises ‘organic’ grocery store Mrs Green’s Natural Market canceled plans to open a new store. Company officials blamed the bad economy for “timing and logistical” problems.   In Schiller Park, despite supposedly making a comeback from bankruptcy, Hostess shutting down a bakery already, 400 jobs lost in October! One union official exclaimed to local news media “We were shocked!” The Schiller Park bakery is credited with creating the Twinkie.  In Champaign, Kraft Foods laid off an additional 56 employees.  Also, Kraft Foods revealed their inexpensive Jell-O brand is in trouble, with steadily crashing sales. Company officials think it’s because their 100+ years old cheap dessert has no nutritional value.   In Hinsdale, after nine years Cosi restaurant shutdown by the property owner, with little notice. News reports say property owner MDC Properties was shutting down all businesses on their Hinsdale properties: “They are de-emphasizing their corporate stores and focusing on their franchises. It’s panning out that way across the country.”-Tim Scott, Hinsdale economic development director

Indiana: In Franklin, Indigo Duck restaurant announced they’re shutting down in September. The family owners blame the death of the founder last year, and the fact that their lease is expiring and they can’t renew.  In Indianapolis, the Incredible Buffet and Fun Center shutdown.   In Thorntown, reports that Railer’s IGA grocery store shutdown.

Iowa: In Sioux City, after 85 years (and surviving the Great Depression and numerous recessions) the Green Gables restaurant shutdown. The family owners say they cannot survive this so called ‘recovery’.   Agricultural equipment supplier Demco Products laid off 26 employees, due to crashing sales.    In Waterloo, tractor maker Deere (formerly known as John Deere) killing 460 jobs, due to crashing sales! That’s on top of the previously announced Deere layoffs in Illinois.  In Urbandale, the Incredible Buffet and Fun Center shutdown, 75 jobs lost.

Kansas: In Hesston, maker of farming equipment AGCO laid off 24 factory workers and cut the hours for everybody else. It’s blamed on crashing sales. Company officials warned that more layoffs will be forthcoming. Union officials believe 80 more workers will become unemployed.

Maryland: In Hampden, Breathe Bookstore and Cafe shutting down by early October.

Massachusetts:  Tewksburry based Market Basket grocery stores killing jobs in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Any striking worker that refuses to come back to work is now fired.  In Cambridge, after 39 years the Dolphin Seafood restaurant shutdown.  In Mansfield, after 31 years Sweet-N-Crafty Italian ice cream shop shutdown. Local news reports said it was the second oldest business in the area, and had donated a lot of money over the years to the community.  In Springfield, JT’s Sports Pub shutdown: “Unfortunately we have not been able to secure a new lease with our landlord so it’s brought an unfortunate end for us. With the casino coming, he has bigger aspirations and feels he could get far more rent.”-Keith Makarowski, owner

Michigan: After 46 years The Wolverine Food & Spirits shutdown. The property was sold to make way for a 24 hours gas station.  After five years cooking school Ann Arbor Cooks shutdown. Hard Luck Candy vodka company ceasing operations. Detroit Zen Center restaurant stopped serving lunch due “to lack of interest”.

Minnesota: Food producer Cargill continues to kill U.S. jobs, this time 169 IT jobs will be outsourced to a company in India!  The owners of well liked Santorini restaurant shut it down with out notice. The only official statement from the family indicated they were forced to sell out.

Missouri: 66 dairy workers suddenly unemployed after Hazelwood Prairie Farms Dairy laid them off without notice. Company officials say the bad economy is forcing them to change their business ‘model’.

Nebraska: In Grand Island, farm equipment maker CNH Industrial America announced it will kill 238 jobs by November! They blame crashing sales.   In Omaha, McKenna’s Blues Booze and BBQ shutdown.

New York: In Salamanca, a Parkview Supermarket grocery store announced it will shutdown in December, 72 jobs lost in time for Xmas.   In NYC, Food Emporium #36-719 announced it will shutdown in November, 76 jobs lost.  ARAMARK Business Dining Services announced they are shutting down in October, 28 jobs lost.

North Carolina: Peat moss distributor Sun Gro announced it will shutdown in September, 16 jobs lost.  Penguin Drive-In restaurant now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. This is the third attempt to file bankruptcy for the restaurant since last year, the first two attempts were thrown out of court. Lowes Food shutting down four grocery stores! Company officials said it’s necessary in order for them to build a fancy new store.

Ohio:  In Cincinnati, after only a few months Kiji teppanyaki restaurant shutdown without notice.   In Columbus, Pennsylvania based Giant Eagle grocery store on West Fifth and Grandview avenues being shutdown. Company officials did not give a date or explanation.  Fruit Growers Marketing Association says don’t expect any peaches in your grocery store: “There’s not much to talk about with the peach crop because, frankly, there isn’t one! There might have been a few farms down south by the Ohio River that weren’t affected, but for the most part this year was a disaster!”-Bill Dodd, Ohio Fruit Growers Marketing Association

It wasn’t just the fruit that was lost: “…as a result of last winter’s frost we lost most of our older peach orchard. We lost the trees themselves!….we lost 60% of our trees….”-Martha Mora, Johnston Fruit Farm

Oklahoma: In Tulsa, Folks Urban Market shutdown. The owner implied it was the greedy property owner saying “…some bad circumstances beyond our control….I’m very upset!”   In Oklahoma City, Homeland grocery store shutting down a second store, this time 55 jobs will be lost: “…we could not justify expending capital in this store.”

Oregon: Cooperative Pendleton Grain Growers selling off six AG Supply stores and one Pendleton Automotive Service Center. They hope the stores are sold off by September. Latest news reports say the co-op is not having luck finding buyers, which means a lot of people will become unemployed.

Pennsylvania: In Plymouth Meeting, after 20 years Kansas based Houlihan’s Restaurant and Bar shutdown. Company officials basically said their Plymouth Meeting location wasn’t worth it anymore.  In Lancaster, after three years Fork-n-Spoon Cafe shutdown.

Tennessee:  Memphis based Fred’s Super Dollar announced they will shutdown 70 stores by the end of 2014, hundreds of jobs lost! Company officials said it’s their way of raising cash to buy up pharmacies!  In Jackson, after 43 years Market Fresh grocery store shutdown. In Oak Ridge, after four years Snappy Tomato Pizza shutdown: “We have really tried to hang on; however, things appear to continue to go downhill for us…..Unfortunately, the sales have not been what we need to keep the business going while the new and upcoming retail centers continue to draw business toward the other end of town.”-franchise owners

Texas:   In Houston, Haven restaurant shutdown. The owner sold out to competitors, blaming the outrageous rent he was paying.  In San Antonio, after five years restaurant Tre Trattoria (aka Tre Downtown) shutdown.   In Austin, El Lago Mexican Foods canceled their plans to expand operations and shutdown, even though they were offered tax incentives: “…since we had to move from our old time location in central Austin, we are having big issues to go back in business. We are still trying to get the company up and running again soon. Thank you again and keep your fingers cross.”-company statement

Virginia: In Falls Church, after 38 years Sam’s Farms garden center shutdown by the greedy property owner who is building an apartment complex.   In Roanoke, First & Sixth Restaurant shutdown.

U.S. Food Crisis, July 2014

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Food Crisis, July 2014: “We had absolutely no control over this situation…” They put up the sign then changed their minds! “You’re shocked at how things just ended.”

Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of July, 2014: Many food suppliers/distributors are consolidating operations and killing jobs due to the collapsing grocery store and restaurant industries, as well as rising costs of food production.

Alabama: In Tuscaloosa, the manager of a Bruno’s grocery store went public and warned that the store will be shutdown. No comment from the owners.

Arizona: Phoenix based Peter Piper Pizza chain now up for auction. The restaurant chain was taken over seven years ago by an international ‘investment’ company headquartered in Washington DC.  Some restaurant industry analysts say there’s just too many restaurants out there.

Arkansas: Springdale based Tyson Foods killing off three major chicken processing factories in Iowa, New Mexico and New York! The processing plants will close between September and sometime in 2015, at least 950 jobs lost! Tyson Foods officials blame the rising prices of chickens, and reduced demand from chicken eaters. However, the true reason could be because Tyson Foods is taking over Hillshire for $8.5-billion USD, by the end of September!

California:  In Sunnyvale, Idaho based SummerWinds Nursery shutdown, but only because the greedy Californian property owner sold the land to a hotel developer (for $5-million)!  In Sacramento, the Starbucks coffee house on 15th & H streets shutdown. It’s blamed on low sales. In San Diego, TGI Friday’s warned it is shutting down a restaurant in September, 56 jobs lost.  In San Francisco, after almost 60 years Villa Romana restaurant shutdown. The owners want to retire, and their two adult children say the economy doesn’t make it worthwhile for them to give up their current careers to continue the family business.  The Grand Cafe warned that at least three employees will be let go in September. In Porterville, Foster Poultry Farms announced 60 chicken pluckers will be laid off come September. In Los Angeles, Wolfgang Pucks shutting down their restaurant at LAX Terminal 2 in September, 24 jobs lost. Also at Terminal 1 LAX, Delaware North Companies (DNC) Travel Hospitality Services shutting down their Back Lot Deli in September, 25 jobs lost.  Another LA McDonald’s announced it is shutting down a restaurant in August, 55 jobs lost. In Ballico, Sierra-Cascade Nursery announced it is shutting down (supposedly temporarily) in September, 544 jobs lost! In Irvine, Buca Restaurants announced they’re shutting down in September, 87 jobs lost.  In Fresno, Mexico based Bimbo Bakeries announced they are laying off 73 employees in September.

Colorado: A Pueblo Jack in the Box restaurant shutdown, 50 jobs lost.  In Loveland, the Family Tree Restaurant shutdown and the owners are pissed about the bad economy saying “We don’t have enough customers to pay our bills, so we’re closing our doors! ….it’s stupid…..We did our crying….” Also, it was discovered that the Red Dragon restaurant shutdown in June, the property was sold off back in May. Also, the Great Wall Chinese Buffet could be shutting down due to the fact the greedy property owner is trying to sell off the building. However, the restaurant owner swears “We’re not going anywhere!”    Three Bella’s Markets grocery stores shutting down! There are reports of complaints from customers about the produce, but the store owner blames the landlord for forcing them to shutdown three of their eight stores. The current owner of Bella’s took over in 2006, and it sounds like he regrets it.  In Broomfield, Safeway grocery store announced it will shutdown in August, 54 jobs lost. Company officials said the economy sucks: “At a certain point, it doesn’t make sense to keep it open.”-Kris Staaf

Connecticut: In Torrington, after eight years Bogey’s Restaurant shutdown. The restaurant owner says it is “…time to exit out.” 

Florida:  In Brickell, after eight years Finnegan’s River bar being shutdown by greedy property developers. The owners of the bar sold out to a New York company for $15-million. 40 years old homosexual bar Parliament House chapter 11 bankrupt busted due to $15.5-million in debt! The owners say their business crashed in 2009 and they’re still trying to recover.  Unilever killing 210 jobs by shutting down their Pinellas Park ice cream factory! The company is consolidating operations to Tennessee and Missouri.  Glades Brewery Partners and Palm Beach Brewery Associates now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. They own a restaurant chain called Brewzii, and recently a judge actually shutdown one of the restaurants for failure to pay rent.  In Miami, after 60 years iconic Jumbo’s restaurant shutdown. It was the area’s first ‘white’ owned restaurant to serve ‘black’ customers. Despite surviving years of riots, bad weather and even drunk drivers, the owner says the bad economy finally did him in: “I thought I could get the neighborhood redeveloped, and I couldn’t. I thought because I knew politicians, I thought I could be an influencing factor in getting this neighborhood to turn. It might, now that I sold. I’ve worked seven days a week for 47 years. It’s time.”-Bobby Flam, second generation owner

Georgia: In Augusta, after 25 years Thai Jong restaurant shutdown.  After more than 42 years cereal maker Kellogg announced they’re shutting down their Columbus factory in 2015, at least 325 jobs lost! Employees were pissed: “The way they went about it is pretty bad. They did the people wrong! A lot of these people been here 30, 40 years.”-Eugene Gilmore

Hawaii: In Honolulu, after only five years Cake Couture shutdown, not surprising when they were charging $3.50 for a little cupcake.

Idaho: In Boise, Italy owned highway and airport food service company HMS Host (Host Marriott Services Corporation-Autogrill S.p.A.) issued a WARN saying they will kill 79 jobs by the end of September.

Illinois:  After 94 years (surviving several recessions and the Great Depression) Gayety’s Chocolates & Ice Cream stores now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  In Chicago, the Taste of Chicago fair now dead. Yearly attendance has crashed since 2007, and this year the show was cancelled on the last day! Interestingly, Obama regime city officials claim the food fair was finally making a profit, despite declining attendance.  In Oak Park, after 19 years Marion Street Grille shutdown. The owner blamed the bad economy saying “We’re just not getting enough coming through the door.”   In Deerfield, God refuses to stop the shutdown of the Stained Glass Coffeehouse, located in the Congregational Church. Should churches be running retail operations? “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”-1 Timothy 6:10 King James Bible

Kansas:  In Wichita, Kroger owned Dillions shutdown two stores, at least 100 jobs lost! The Red Beans Bayou Grill shutdown without notice. The owner is now focusing on catering only.

Maine: In Waterville, after 30 years Bolley’s Famous Franks restaurant shutdown: “I just want less stress.”-Zena McFadden, co-owner

Maryland: In Frederick, Texas based Dickey’s Barbecue Pit shutdown without notice, and without paying its employees! Company officials simply said “It was not meeting our standards”, but local circuit court officials revealed that the restaurant failed to get a required business license. Most former employees claim they are still owed about $600.  After 36 years of selling food, Stop Shop Save announced it is shutting down all its Baltimore grocery stores! At one time there were 16 Stop Shop Save stores. Company officials say their sales have crashed from $69.4-million in 2004 to $28.1-million in 2013! Despite several dozen gorcery stores in the city, The Balitmore Sun says 1 in 5 residents lack easy access to food shopping, as 40% of the city’s poor have no means of transportation. “It all started so good, was so convenient…..You’re shocked at how things just ended.”-Yvonne Epps, loyal customer

Massachusetts:  In Brighton, after 41 years Imperial Pizza shutdown.  In Woburn, the Sea Dog Brew Pub now chapter 7 bankrupt busted, and shutdown without notice.  In Foxborogh, after six years Tastings Wine Bar & Bistro now chapter 7 bankrupt and deceased. The owners blame the suck ass economy: “The combination of a weak economy, high and persistent unemployment, and high staff turnover has led us to this difficult decision.” 

Michigan:  In Pittsfield Township, they put up the sign then changed their mind. Texas based Carrabba’s Italian Grill has backed out of their plans to open a restaurant, citing the suck ass economy. Florida based LongHorn Steakhouse also backed out.   In Failed State Detroit, the Comet Bar threatened with being forced to shutdown by a desperate baseball team. Apparently the popular local bar might be in the way of the new stadium for the Detroit Red Wings.  After 125 years the building housing the iconic and elitist Detroit Club now up for auction only seven months after the new owner spent more than a million dollars buying and renovating the building. The starting bid is less than a million!  In Saginaw, after only eight months the Lettuce Lounge Eatery shutdown. It’s just more proof humans aren’t rabbits, however the operators of the veg restaurant blame it on the greedy owners of the shopping plaza where they’re located.   In East Lansing, after 50 years Goodrich’s Shop Rite grocery store shutdown. The owners said their lease expired and the property owners wanted mo money.  In the Failed State of Flint, Kroger shutting down their Pierson Road grocery store in August. Company officials say sales have dropped so much they can’t pay the rent: “…it was determined during our evaluation that we were unable to continue operating at the 2629 Pierson Road, Flint location and made the decision to not renew our lease…” 

Retail store owners are going public, saying the WIC (Women Infants Children) taxpayer funded food program is killing their business. Apparently state Department of Community Health (DCH) is now limiting reimbursements for rural WIC sales, based on postal zip code. And in urban areas DCH will allow only 175 WIC customers per store. Roy Rabban, the owner of a Save-A-Lot, is pissed: “Not having WIC is like taking 10% of your business out of your pocket. I’m getting penalized…” 

Minnesota: In Twin Cities, nine Roundy owned Rainbow Foods grocery stores shutdown, with little notice! Officials from Roundy said the economy is so bad it can’t support all the grocery stores that are out there.  In Minneapolis, after nine years Social House restaurant shutdown, the operators blame the property owner for kicking them out, saying “We had absolutely no control over this situation…”   In Austin, after 10 years Quizno’s sandwich shop shutting down due to nobody wanting to takeover the store. The franchise owners simply said “It doesn’t look good.” In Mankato, after 20 years Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant announced they will shutdown in August. The local franchise owner blames “circumstances beyond my control.”

Mississippi: In Greenville, Kroger announced it will shutdown a grocery store in August, 70 jobs lost.

New Mexico: In Albuquerque, after 11 years the Thai Crystal-Thai Saweiy restaurant shutdown.

New Jersey: In West Milford, after at least six decades Big John’s Pub shutting down in August. Tracey Bennett, the owner, said “It is time for me to have a normal life without stress.”  In Montclair, Health, Love & Soul, Juice Bar & Grill shutdown.   In Berkeley Heights, after only four months New York based Garden of Eden grocery store shutdown. Company officials said “…business needs dictate that we cut our losses.” 

New York:  In Batavia, after ten years the drive thru Hot Shots Caffé shutting down in August. The owners made it sound like they were forced to go somewhere else.   After 77 years the Subway Inn announced it will shutdown in August. It’s being done in by a greedy property developer, the son of the bar owner said “It is upsetting but times have changed.”    In Buffalo, after only two months the owners of Chef’s Garage Pizza announced they’re shutting down. The owner basically said there are too many pizza restaurants.  In NYC, after seven years New Amsterdam Market shutdown. The owner of the popular market place said nobody was willing to continue debt financing the operation (which is actually how retail America works, not by actual sales).  In Greenwich Village the Pink Elephant bar now chapter 7 bankrupt busted. It’s blamed on the greedy property owner.  Crumbs Bake Shop shut down all 48 stores across several states, without notice! The cupcake store is now chapter 7 bankrupt busted, apparently the cupcake thing was just a fad, in the past year the company’s stock value fell from $13 per share to just 27 cents!  In Rochester, Nick Tahou Hots restaurant shutdown.

North Carolina:  In Greensboro, after 18 years Mahi’s Seafood Restaurant shutdown. The owner said he wanted to move to a cheaper location, but the economy is so bad he couldn’t pay for the move.  In Raleigh, after 102 years ( and surviving the Great Depression & numerous recessions) the Cameron Park Inn shutdown.  After 47 years the city’s first Dunkin’ Donuts shutdown. The owners said their franchise agreement expired in December 2013, and they just can’t afford to renew it.  In Durham, the owners of the ‘private’ Whiskey bar announced it will shutdown by August.  Charlotte based snack maker Snyder’s-Lance warned it will start killing jobs, after it sold off its private brands ops and took over Wisconsin based Baptista’s Bakery. In Havelock, an 18 years old Food Lion grocery store shutting down in October.

Ohio: In Massillon, Food4Less grocery store shutdown without notice! It was shutdown right in the middle of the afternoon while customers were shopping, about 15:00 hours according to local news reports. It’s the 3rd grocery store in the past six months to shutdown in the city of Massillon. Local news reports indicate that the owner of all three grocery stores had lost a major legal battle. One lawsuit claims the owner has yet to pay for store supplies she received as far back as 2011! Hundreds of jobs lost due to a incompetent or possibly deceitful store owner (kinda like a metaphor for those who’re running the United States)!  In Dayton, after less than one year two Peet’s Coffee & Tea shops shutdown, and another five throughout Ohio will shutdown in August! At least 90 jobs will be lost, but company officials said their own surveys show the economy in Ohio is going down the shitter, saying their stores “…have not performed to our expectations and didn’t have a promising future outlook.”  Springfield based Eby-Brown revealed it is shutting down their NewFreshCo Foods operations in August, 31 jobs lost. Eby-Brown claims to be the largest privately owned convenience store distributor in the U.S.

Oklahoma: In Tulsa, World Quality Holdings-World Foods announced they will shutdown their frozen foods op in September, 70 jobs lost. Company officials blame global competition, however, it could be more about their upcoming sale to a Japanese company.  The Gateway Market shutdown, way earlier than it was supposed to. Local news reports said it was the only grocery store for miles: “Everybody’s frustrated, the whole neighborhood. You know, I mean, they ain’t got no cars, no way of getting their groceries. What they going to do now?”-David Campbell, customer

Oregon: Texas based Berry Family of Nurseries announced they’re shutting down their Cornelius ops in September, at least 100 jobs lost!  In Portland, after four years Mextiza restaurant shutdown. In Eugene, after 35 years Keystone Cafe shutdown, 17 jobs lost. The owners blame increasing costs of operation, including higher insurance rates caused by Obama Care, for forcing them to “regretfully retire”. In Forest Grove, controversial Dream Girls Espresso shutdown. Apparently the female employees wore bikinis and would flash their boobs at customers. Even though they were wearing pasties on their nipples, one man (who for some reason liked to go there and buy coffee and take pics with his cell phone) was outraged and complained so much to the landlord that the lease was not renewed. This sounds like a clear case of ‘christian/religious’ prudery gone wild and resulting in job destruction: “He has basically stalked the stand since we’ve been open and has made several attempts at sending my landlord pictures to the point where it’s affecting their livelihood!”-Leah Sizemore, store owner

Pennsylvania: Four Arby’s restaurants were shutdown, without warning! The owner was under pressure to find debt financing to continue operations. Apparently the economy in Pennsylvania can’t support Arby’s.  In Lawrenceville, Paragon Foods canceled their plans to build a distribution center. The female president of the company said “It was unaffordable for us…”  In Monaca, EveryWare Global (formerly Anchor Hocking) announced that the temporary shutdown of their kitchenware factory could become permanent, 450 jobs lost! It’s blamed on EveryWare not being able to pay its debts. The deadline to come up with a payment plan favorable to creditors is July 15.   God refuses to stop the Franktuary hot dog restaurant at Trinity Cathedral from shutting down: “We’ve come to the end of an era. Franktuary will close its original set of doors on National Hot Dog Day, July 23rd, at 4 pm.”-owners

In Harrisburg, Zia’s at Red Door shutdown. The owner blames jacked up rent and the fact that the idiot A-hole city officials jacked up the cost of parking at the restaurant: “Parking definitely has a lot to do with it. We lost a lot of customers. A lot of customers won’t come down because of it.”-Rocco Rama

South Carolina: In Charleston, after six years the Vegetable Bin announced it is shutting down in August. The building failed a fire code inspection, and the owner says their sales aren’t enough to cover the cost of bringing it up to code.  In Walterboro, after 12 years the local Arby’s restaurant shutdown without notice. Local news reports say the restaurant has two signs posted on the building, one saying “Now Hiring!” and the other saying “Sorry we’re close.” (yep, they actually forgot to put the ‘d’ on the end of “close”). Local news reports said no restaurant official would talk to them to explain why the restaurant shutdown.

Tennessee:  In Chattanooga, after only two years wine bar Brix Nouveau shutdown. The owner blamed “several factors”.    Sharky’s Gulf Grill shutdown. Apparently the property is under a U.S. Department of Justice forced sale, having something to due with the property owner being accused of Facebook scams.  After four decades Vic and Bill’s Deli shutdown: “….it’s a part of home actually and it kinda feels that way closing it. But all good things have their time have their season and I guess our season is kind of ending.”-Angelia Captain Townsend, manager

Texas:  In Dallas/Fort Worth, Bonchon Korean style chicken restaurant shutdown. Reports said it seems there aren’t enough fans of Korean style food in Texas.   In Dallas (Oak Lawn), after 22 years Good Eats shutdown. The owners blame the greedy property owner saying “our landlord has refused to renew our lease”. In Austin, the Pour House Pub shutdown. The property is being demolished for a big retail development.  In Houston, after less than nine months Trenza restaurant shutdown.

Utah: In Salt Lake City, after 13 years two Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill restaurants shutting down at the beginning of August. Company officials blame the bad economy and competition: “It’s based on more competition in the downtown area. We appreciate every one of our guests, but unfortunately over the past few years, there have been fewer and fewer.”-Kennedy Turner

Virginia: After 50 years Fresh Pride began shutting down the last of its grocery stores, without notice. An undisclosed number of employees laid off, in the hundreds at least! The owner of Fresh Pride, Camellia Food Stores, said they can no longer compete in this bad economy.   Snack maker Prime Choice Foods now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

Washington: In Seattle, after 20 years the owner of Hurricane Cafe announced he is forced to shutdown in January 2015. The restaurant owner blames the greedy property owner: “It’s not the way we wanted to go out for sure, losing a lease and getting torn down!”

Washington DC:  Watergate Wine & Beverage store now bankrupt busted and shutting down. The owner, Joseph Park, said regarding the economy that since 2006 “It’s slowly dying…..the business is just not here.” 

Wisconsin: In Stevens Point, Copps and Roundy’s grocery distribution center shutting down in August, 196 jobs lost! 27 Roundy’s grocery stores were sold off to SuperValu. The first Roundy’s was opened in 1872.  Food producer Cargill suddenly shutdown their Milwaukee slaughterhouse, killing off 600 jobs! Company officials blame a lack of affordable cows: “The harsh reality is that the U.S. beef cattle herd is at its lowest level since 1951, with any significant herd expansion being years away.”-company statement

U.S. Food Crisis, June 2014

Business/Economics

Sears & Kmart closing update, 07 November 2014: Sears to save self by avoiding taxes, and investors love it! More proof Kmart clothes made in slave labor sweat shops! Mike Myers does Canadian commercial to save Sears! Sears screws over Goodyear for at least $20-million?

Wisconsin losing a Sears and Sears Auto Center in February 2015.  Sears Holdings sold the property to a New York based company.

Two weeks ago a BBN reader warned that the Oregon City Kmart was going to be shutdown.  Now, confirmation from Sears Holdings that a third Portland area Kmart will close in January.

Apparently Eddie Lampert is scheming a new shell game; how to avoid taxes.  Reports say he is going to create a new Real Estate investment Trust (REIT) which he will then sell 300 Sears stores to.   On paper the new REIT will be the official owner and therefore be responsible for taxes.   Sears Holdings will then ‘rent’ the stores back from the new REIT.  Investors drove the price of Sears Holdings stock upward by 40% when they heard the plan.

“Sears’ refusal to purchase the remaining inventory of co-branded tires constitutes a breach of the parties’ purchase agreement(s) and a breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.”-Goodyear

The iconic U.S. tire-maker, Goodyear, is now suing Sears for $19.5-million USD. Goodyear attorneys claim 219994 tires made specifically for the Sears brands Fuel-Max and Weatherbeater are now wasting space on Goodyear shelves, because Sears refuses to pay for them!

Goodyear attorneys add that Sears has threatened Goodyear with legal action if Goodyear sold the tires to somebody else, this despite the fact that Sears hired a new contracted tire-maker in June!

Goodyear was hired back in January to produce 330-thousand tires for Sears, yet Sears only bought a fraction of them. Goodyear also accuses Sears of improperly discounting the tires they bought!

Sears is also ripping off customers on its Kenmore oven sales. Its latest add says “35% off all other Kenmore cooking….”, but then in smaller print it clarifies that the “35% off all” actually means “20% off……15% off other qualifying appliances with Sears card”. In other words the “35% off all” does not actually apply to “all”.

Anti-2nd Amendment laws failed to stop a stabbing at a Tennessee Kmart. Police say at about 03:00 hours two men, sitting in a car in the the parking lot, began arguing then as the driver tried to drive off the passenger stabbed him multiple times, causing him to crash into a semi-truck. The stabber got away, the stabbie is in critical condition and was arrested by police.

In Wisconsin, a Kmart ‘loss prevention’ employee was arrested for allowing customers to walk away with about $25-hundred worth of merchandise. Police say he was working with specific ‘customers’ to rip-off the store.

The Daily Mail Australia held a contest for best cheap-ass jeans (denim pants), and Australia Kmart’s $7 AUD pants won. However, British empire human rights watchdog Oxfam says those jeans, along with other retailer brand cheap-ass pants, are being made in sweat shops. But Oxfam also warned that just because you buy more expensive jeans doesn’t mean they’re better quality or made in a better working environment: “It’s concerning to see garments at such a low price. It’s not the prices that we should be worried about but it’s whether these companies are respecting workers…..It doesn’t necessarily mean that when we pay $80 for a pair of jeans that workers are paid more….”-Kelly Dent, Oxfam

As an example of slave wage labor, Oxfam said textile workers in Cambodia are paid an average of $100 AUD per month, which is $350 less than what it actually costs to economically survive in the South East Asian country!   (from what I remember, the Australian Kmarts are not controlled by Sears Holdings)

In Canada, Canadian comedian Mike Myers has done a commercial to save his brother’s ass!  You see, his brother Peter Meyers is a long time Sears employee.  The ‘please save my brother’s job at Sears Canada’ TV commercial tries to justify the job killing by saying it’s just about getting more efficient (“…demographically and psychographically alter the trajectory of its business model”).  Unfortunately, if you’ve been following the corporate shenanigans you know it’s something more sinister (or inept), and the commercial makes Mike Myers look like a sucker for Sears.

update 30 October 2014

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), Cupertino Sears and Auto Center (number of employees affected not made public, no WARN filed).

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).

Connecticut: Waterbury Big Kmart, Torrington Kmart (73 jobs lost), Enfield Sears Optical (no word on jobs lost).

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

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).

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 going’ down in November (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). 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).

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).

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).

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 obvious the last remaining Saginaw Kmart on Gratiot will remain shutdown after its roof collapsed during a snowstorm back in January, 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).

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.

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), 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: 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).

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).

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), Chambersburg Sears and Auto Center (62 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).

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).

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.

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 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), recently revealed Sheboygan Sears & Auto Center (at least 31 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

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 04 September 2014: “This is the first phase, there could potentially be additional phases.” Secret Obamacare rule changes kill 340 jobs! Is hope lost for one food bank? No more chocolate? Cabinet & countertop maker calls in the fuzz before firing employees!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: In San Diego, The Active Network warned it will layoff 47 people in November.  In Sunnyvale, subsidiary of taxsucking Boeing, Narus, warned it will kill 17 jobs in November.

Colorado: In Wheat Ridge, after 26 years Gold’s Corner Grocery store shutdown.

Connecticut: In Bridgeport, British empire Scotland (RBS) owned Too Big to Jail Citizens Financial Group killing 126 jobs by the end of October!  Operator of homes for mentally and physically disabled people, REM Connecticut, announced they’re shutting down 32 homes by Xmas 2014, 340 jobs lost!  The pissed-off administrators directly blamed secret rule changes in Obama Care: “We have recently learned of several changes that negatively impact our level of reimbursement and as a result we’ve made the tough decision that we can no longer continue to provide the level of service that we believe is in the best interest of our clients.”-Paul Catalodo, executive director

Florida: In Miami-Dade County, Too Big to Jail JPMorgan Chase Bank shutting down an office.  Bank administrators say they must consolidate operations.  In Tampa, One Call Care Management announced they are shutting down their call center between October 2014 and summer of 2015, at least 99 jobs lost.   Wounded Warriors considering moving its HQ to a new county, meaning at least 500 jobs will be lost in Duval County!  Rival Saint Johns County is offering the greedy supposedly non-profit veterans organization a huge taxpayer funded grant (half a million U.S. dollars!) to leave Duval County.

Indiana: Electronics company Samtec announced they are consolidating operations, no indication how many people will become unemployed.

Iowa: After 83 years (surviving the Great Depression and numerous recessions) Camp Fire Camp Hitaga shutdown, destitute and broke.  It’s blamed on raptured (disappearing) campers; at one time the camp had 200 campers per week, but in the past two years the camp was lucky to see 150 campers for the entire summer!

Kansas: Elitist Homestead Country Club now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, in an attempt to stop foreclosure.

Mississippi: The state Department of Education laid off 30 employees without notice, including the boss of the Office of School Improvement.  Mississippi DoE spokewoman Patrice Guilfoyle said “This is the first phase, there could potentially be additional phases.”

New Mexico:  In Clovis, after 46 years family owned grocery store Stansell’s Thriftway shutdown.

Ohio: Drugs maker Ricerca Biosciences is up for sale and if nobody buys, then at least 200 people will become unemployed!  Job culling will begin in October, it’s blamed on crashing sales.

Oklahoma: In Tulsa, after 11 years LaDonna’s Fancy Foods store shutdown.

Pennsylvania:  In Hazleton, Archer Daniels Midland killed 90 chocolate maker jobs after being taken over by evil food processor Cargill.  Local news reports say the remaining 118 Umpa Lumpas are in limbo as Cargill has made no announcement about what they’re going to do with their newly acquired chocolate factory.  Cargill administrators say they are in the middle of a $440-million deal involving taking over food factories around the World.  Their plan is to consolidate operations, which means massive layoffs, possibly in the thousands.

South Carolina: In Columbia, hope is lost for the Harvest Hope Food Bank.  They have to layoff ten employees, and reduce hours for the other 78.  The operators of the po-folks food non-profit claim it’s not because of decreased donations, rather demand for food has skyrocketed, and they had some equipment breakdown which must be repaired.

Texas: What housing market recovery?  In Dallas, Riverstone Residential Group announced they will kill 101 jobs by the end of October!  It’s blamed on the loss of an apartment management contract.   Temple based maker of kitchen cabinets and countertops Wilsonart Laminates laid off 43 employees, without notice: “On my way leaving, they stopped me, and told me that we needed to have a meeting, and they terminated me when we had the meeting.”-unnamed employee interviewed by local TV news

Employees were told about their unemployment as they were leaving work.  Local news reports said the gut-less company administrators actually called in police for protection on the day they fired their workers!  The company is restructuring their operations to meet  crashing demand.  The unAmerican Wilsonart is one of many corporations that have off-shored jobs to China.

Virginia: In Fredericksburg, non-profit Mary Washington Healthcare laid off 66 healthcare workers without notice: “This came as a complete shock! Everyone had their mouths open!”-hospital employee who refused to be named by local news media

(obviously healthcare workers haven’t been reading my job losses reports, or they would be well aware of the Obama Care job destruction)

Hospital administrators said they’re also cutting pay for 46 other employees.  157 employees will be transfered elsewhere!  Non-profit Mary Washington Healthcare has lost $31-million since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (Obama Care).

Washington: Denmark based drugs pusher Novo Nordisk announced they’re shutting down their Seattle inflammation research center by November, killing 63 jobs.   In Bellevue, JCPenney announced they will shutdown their 55 years old store by November.

01-03 September 2014

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.

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security…That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Food Crisis, June 2014: “When all you can see is the negatives….it’s time to bail out!” It’s only getting worse!

Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of June, 2014: Many food suppliers/distributors are consolidating operations and killing jobs due to the collapsing grocery store and restaurant industries, as well as rising costs of food production.

Alaska: The Kake Gunnuk Creek hatchery shutdown.

Arizona: In Tempe, after almost 20 years Big Fish Pub shutdown. Local news reports say it is the result of years of disputes between the Pub owners and the property owners. The Pub owners stated in a long letter to their customers that the property owners finally jacked up the rent so high, it was impossible to pay.    It’s been revealed that Nellis Management will be shutting down Long John Silver’s restaurants in Arizona.   California based Mimi’s Cafe shutdown.

California: Despite being a major agricultural center, El Centro has the second highest rate of unemployment in the U.S., at 21.1%!  In Modesto, cereal maker Post announced they’re shutting down in September, 58 jobs lost.  In Oakland, Dobake Bakeries announced they will shutdown in August, 221 jobs lost! In Los Angeles, Wolfgang Puck announced it will kill 76 jobs in July.  In Palo Alto, a California Pizza Kitchen announced it will shutdown in August, 52 jobs lost.  In Beverly Hills, after 27 years the upscale snooty Kate Mantilini restaurant shutdown.  In Costa Mesa, S.B. Restaurant revealed they have already shutdown 16 Elephant Bar Global Grill/Wok Kitchen restaurants across the country. The company is bankrupt and hopes somebody can buyout the rest of the restaurants soon, or they’ll all be shutdown.  In Lake Forest, dairy flavorings provider Kerry Flavor Systems revealed they will shutdown in September, 85 jobs lost. It might be connected to Kerry’s takeover of Wynnstar Flavors.   In Laguna Niguel, Kroger owned Ralph’s grocery store shutting down in July. In Newport Beach, after ten years successful Z Pizza shutdown by the landlord. The property owner refused to renew the lease. In Irvine, Red Brick Pizza forced to shutdown by the same property owners that shutdown Z Pizza. A Denny’s restaurant is being shutdown because the property owner (apparently the same one who shutdown the two pizza joints) refuses to renew the lease.

Florida: After 28 years, Grandy’s restaurant announced they’re shutting down in August.   In Broward County the company that runs the local Five Guys burger joints, ASCI Broward, is now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, 120 jobs threatened! It’s blamed on a lawsuit filed by investors.  In Orlando and Fort Myers, The Elephant Bar Global Grill shutdown (see California).  In Sarasota, upscale golf themed Sam Snead’s American Grill shutting down. Employees were given two weeks notice, but were also “ordered” not to talk to the news media.   Emilio and Gloria Estefan’s Bongos Cuban Cafe shutdown. They could not renew the lease.

Georgia: After 27 years upscale snooty elitist Vinings Club restaurant shutdown. The shutdown was revealed by one of the 871 exclusive members. 40 jobs lost, it’s being blamed on financial reasons which forced the sale of the restaurant.

Hawaii: In Kauai, after 98 years the Kojima grocery store shutdown. The family owners blamed decreasing sales and increasing costs of operations.  In Maui, after 47 years Buzz’s Wharf restaurant shutdown. The owner blamed the bad economy.

Idaho: In Twin Falls, after only two years of production at the World’s largest yogurt factory Chobani laid off an undisclosed number of employees. Officials say the layoffs are because production quotas were reached (in other words the former employees did their jobs well)! But wait, more layoffs could be in the planning! Chobani officials told local news media that the factory was still using hundreds more employees than they really need. The new factory was designed for 400 employees, but state employment officials estimate there are between 500 and 1-thousand people working the successful operation.

Illinois: In Galesburg, the Long John Silver’s fast fish food joint shutdown without notice, 10 jobs lost. Employees were officially notified the same morning that the restaurant was shutdown. The franchise owner, Nellis Management, said the store was losing money big time. Nellis Management also said sales at their other 31 Long John Silver’s (across four states) began crashing in 2013, and they plan on shutting more stores down as a result.  In Northbrook, Swizterland based Nestle’s shutdown their DiGiorno pizza and Jack’s Frozen Pies factory, 66 jobs lost. They are consolidating operations.  In Quincy, after 134 years (surviving dozens of recessions and the Great Depression) farm supply store Geo. Keller & Sons shutdown, 21 jobs lost. Family owners said their sales have been crashing for too many years in a row.  In Alton, after 37 years White’s Greenhouse and Seasons Garden Center shutdown. In Lakeview, after ten years the Pie Hole Pizza Joint shutdown. The owner blames it on a combination of the purchase of faulty kitchen equipment and the crashing economy: “The last two years have just been really hard.”-Doug Brandt

Iowa: Another Long John Silver’s franchise going down, this time in The Hawkeye State. After 42 years Nellis Management announced they are shutting down at least eight of their Iowa stores (as well as their Illinois stores, reported in a prior Job Losses report). As in Illinois, news reports said Iowa employees were given no notice. Nellis Management claims they’ve suffered as much as 50% drop in sales! They blame a scientific report which dubbed Long John Silver’s the “worst restaurant” in the U.S.

Kansas: In Kansas City, after 58 years Lipari Brothers Thriftway grocery store shutdown. They blame competition from bigger grocery stores.   In Leawood, a Hy-Vee grocery store shutdown, however the pharmacy is still open. Company officials wanted to remodel the store but blame city officials for playing games with permits and/or zoning laws.

Louisiana: After 55 years the Piccadilly Cafeteria in the Westmoreland Village Shopping Center shutdown. Does it have something to do with the new Catholic owners of the shopping center, or the new New York based owners of the Piccadilly chain?  In New Orleans, gelato shop La Divina Gelateria shutdown. The owners say they are focusing on wholesale ops only.

Maryland: In Baltimore two restaurants, California based Pabu and Lamill, shutdown.

Massachusetts: In Springfield, after 79 years (and surviving the Great Depression) The Student Prince Café & Fort Dining Room shutdown. It was sold off.   In Easton, after 60 years McMenamy’s Hamburger House shutdown. The building was sold. In Haverhill, Archie’s Little River Ale House shutdown.  In Woburn, Kraft Foods announced they are shutting down a 95 years old food factory in 2016, at least 200 jobs will be lost! Company officials say it’s the only way they can remain “competitive” in the global market.

Michigan: At the Detroit Metro Airport a contract with Chili’s Too, Jose Cuervo Tequileria, Home Team Sports and Starbucks Fountain was ended. If a new contract is not signed 135 jobs will be lost in August!

Minnesota: There are reports that the international food giant General Mills has a secret cost cutting (job killing?) plan in the works, due to crashing sales.  After more than 25 years Campus Pizza & Pasta now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  In Minneapolis, after 32 years Falafel King shutdown. The owner sold off the building because he was “tired” of playing the landlord game.  Sky Ventures warning it will shutdown six Pizza Huts in June, if there are no buyers. Sky Ventures is bankrupt, the franchise company has already sold off 54 Pizza Huts.

Mississippi: According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture 20.9% of Mississippians are unable to buy enough food.

Missouri: In Saint Louis, after 12 years Lemmons Bar & Club shutdown, the owner Mike Gross explained that “When all you can see is the negatives and you can’t see the positives, it’s a good indication that it’s time to bail out!”   In Clayton, Brazikat restaurant shutdown. The owner blames bad reviews, however, it turns out the owner is being sued for breach of contract. In Richmond Heights-Saint Louis, after 18 years the troubled Harvest Restaurant shutdown. The owner blamed competition, however, the restaurant had routinely changed ownership for some reason.  In Saint Louis, food processor ConAgra killing 130 jobs! It’s blamed on its takeover of Ralcorp.  In Kansas City, after only four years Pandolfi’s Deli shutdown.

Nebraska: In Omaha, food processor ConAgra killing 100 jobs! It’s blamed on its takeover of Ralcorp.

Nevada: In Las Vegas, after only four years the West Sahara Firefly Tapas and Kitchen Bar shutdown.  In Sparks, after 18 years Scolari’s Food & Drug shutdown, 50 jobs lost. Company officials say the shutdown is meant to “keep the company….viable”.

New Mexico: In Santa Fe, Bumble Bee’s Baja Grill shutdown.  In Albuquerque, Maloney’s Tavern shutdown, 25 jobs lost. Apparently the property owner wants to sell off the building.

New York: In New Hyde Park, the Stop & Shop Supermarket announced they’re shutting down in September, 162 jobs lost!  Stop & Shop Supermarkets also warned they’re shutting down their Mount Vernon warehouse ops, 239 jobs lost! Also in Mount Vernon, grocery delivery company Peapod killing 239 jobs in September, because they’re moving to New Jersey!  In NYC, Rouge Tomate restaurant announced it will shutdown in August, 105 jobs lost!  In Corning, World Kitchen warned of mass layoffs at its Pressware dinnerware factory. The Pressware factory started in 1938 making Pyrex, there are reports that this last U.S. owned dinnerware company is being sold off. In Rome, after 33 years B&L Italian Bakery shutdown.   In Brooklyn, prepared meals provider Blue Apron laying off 82 people in September. Company officials announced they’re moving to New Jersey.  In Yonkers, after only two years Brio Tuscan Grille announced they will shutdown in August, 78 jobs lost. Restaurant officials blame the suck-ass economy.

North Carolina:  In Charlotte, after 15 years Miro Spanish Grille shutting down in July. The property owner refused to renew the restaurant’s lease.

North Dakota: What oil boom? In Fargo, after 34 years Happy Joe’s Pizza and Ice Cream shutdown. The owner blamed health problems and the bad economy saying his business was no longer “cutting it”.

Ohio: Food processor ConAgra killing 170 jobs! The company is shutting down two popcorn factories. It’s blamed on its takeover of Ralcorp.

Oregon: In Forest Grove, Izgara Middle Eastern Cuisine shutdown. The Jewish owners said they’ve already bought their airline tickets to Florida.

South Dakota: It’s been revealed that Nellis Management will be shutting down Long John Silver’s restaurants.

Tennessee: In Chattanooga, Farley’s & Sathers candy factory laid off 95 Umpa Lumpas, I mean employees. The Chicago based owners (Ferrara Candy) are moving production to candy factories in Illinois. News reports say that over the past five years Ferrara Candy has killed 200 jobs at their Farley’s & Sathers candy factory!  In Oak Ridge, the Food Lion grocery store shutdown, 40 jobs lost.

Texas: Near Dallas, a six years old Jakes Hamburgers shutdown. The owners blame the location, and claim most of the employees were moved to other Jakes locations.  7-Eleven selling off 78 convenience stores across the U.S. It’s part of the Texas based company’s new “business model”.   In Houston, one of three upscale Brio Tuscan Grille restaurants shutdown without notice. The Saint Genevieve bar was shutdown without notice. They’re reports that many eateries are being shutdown for property re-development.  In Austin, Paggi House restaurant shutdown, the owner blames “progress”.  Garrido’s restaurant shutdown, the owner wants to try something new.

Virginia: In Stauton, after 77 years Jimmy Anderson’s Food Mart shutdown.

U.S. Food Crisis, May 2014