Tag Archives: labor

Business/Economics

Sears & Kmart closing update, 18 October 2014: “Now we have nowhere to go.” 543+ jobs killed, Happy New Year! Lampert buys Sears Canada! Average American shopper reveals ignorance!

Sears Holdings sells off its Sears Canada stock, to Eddie Lampert, the guy who owns Sears Holdings!  He’s playing desperate games now.

Virginia losing a Kmart in January!

In Florida first Winter Haven, then Winter Park, now Winter Springs losing a Kmart, in January!

Sparsely populated Montana losing another Kmart, in January!

52 years old Illinois Kmart shutting down in January!  Local news reports say shoppers were pissed, many had been driving 80km (50 miles) to the store every month, ever since the Pontiac Kmart was shutdown last year: “Now we have nowhere to go.”-Dawn Blangin

Indiana losing another Kmart in January!

Pennsylvania losing three more Sears, in January!  An ignorant mall shopper who obviously doesn’t get out much (and as such represents the average American) stated “I don’t know if it’s the economy, but just recently, every store that’s been in here is leaving.”-Melinda Lubold

update 17 October 2014

Here’s the updated list of U.S. Sears/Kmart store closings 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).

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).

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).

Delaware: Dover Kmart (at least 72 jobs lost, some reports said 100), Seaford Sears (30 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), recently revealed Winter Springs Kmart (69 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!), 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, recently revealed 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 Sears at Washington Square Mall (91 jobs lost), recently revealed 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).

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost), Presque Isle 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).

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).

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), recently revealed 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 Sears distribution center (200 jobs lost), also in Columbus Sears Product Rebuild Center (112 jobs lost), Marion Sears Auto Center (at least nine jobs lost), Springfield Kmart (68 jobs lost), Fairborn Kmart (66 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).

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).

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) 88Sears and Auto Center (97 jobs lost), recently revealed Bloomsburg Sears (57 jobs lost), recently revealed Frackville Sears and Auto Center (84 jobs lost), recently revealed North Cornwall Township Sears (51 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 CoolSprings 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), recently revealed 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 (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).

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 13 August 2014: VA clinics shutting down! More coal mine shutdowns! Casino kills 3-thousand+ jobs!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Switzerland based Too Big to Jail UBS Wealth Americas (formerly known as PaineWebber) announced they will kill 75 jobs in the United States.  It’s blamed on the demise of Switzerland as a tax haven for the filthy rich.

Speaking of UBS, they declared that there’s no way Radio Shack can prevent itself from going bust.

Connecticut: After 15 years Anna Donte Italian Restaurant shutdown.  After 41 years consignment shop The Silk Purse shutdown.

Florida: Miami-Dade County reminded everybody that  400 cops will lose their jobs in the Autumn!  Of course the tax loving Police Benevolent Association union claims county law enforcement is already short staffed.  County officials need to reduce next year’s payroll by $9.5-million USD, due to crashing tax revenues and increased insurance costs caused by Obama Care.  In Pasco County, military optical systems maker (federal taxsucker) VLOC shutting down and laying off at least 70 employees.  Local analysts said the county will lose $5.7-million when the company shuts down.

Hawaii: Simply Organized shutdown its first store located in Kapolei.

Kentucky: In Louisville, Incredible Dave’s arcade finally shutdown.  Apparently the owner just couldn’t pay his back due taxes.  In 2012 he made this ‘famous last words’ statement: “We’re back on our two feet, and we will be here long term.”  

Michigan: After five years cooking school Ann Arbor Cooks shutdown.  DPM Manufacturing chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  eTel-Rx chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Hard Luck Candy vodka company ceasing operations.  Detroit Zen Center restaurant stopped serving lunch due “to lack of interest”.

Missouri: In Mount Vernon, the Missouri Rehabilitation Center and VA Clinic shutting down!  It’s run by greedy Missouri University Health System, who basically said they’re losing money on the veteran care op.  Veteran Larry Hilburn accused them of constantly short changing veterans: “There’s a lot of veterans that need more help than they’re getting!”

New Jersey: Revel Casino makes it official and will shutdown in September, nobody turned out for the bankruptcy sale!  31-hundred jobs lost!

New York: In NYC, Hotel Bedford announced they’re shutting down by November, 47 jobs lost.

North Carolina: Penguin Drive-In restaurant now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  The owners owe a lot of money to a lot of people including state and federal governments.  It should be noted that bankruptcy doesn’t get rid of your debts to the government, but you can negotiate them down.  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.   Obama Care killing off the Women’s Hospital in Greensboro.  The operator, Cone Health, says cost cutting forced by Obama Care means they must consolidate healthcare services into fewer hospitals.

Ohio: Dayton based Standard Register is using the U.S. Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014 to slash employee retirement funding by $33-million!

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!”

Pennsylvania: Near Lewisburg, after 42 years Colonial Candlecrafters shutdown.

Texas: In Houston, Xerox shutting down their call center in September, 468 jobs lost!  They lost their contract with Sprint.

Washington: Seattle based tech company RealNetwork killed 85 jobs.   Taxsucker Boeing announced it will cut $6-billion from its military contract suppliers, which means big job losses for the contractors.

West Virginia: Yet another coal mine shuts down.  Coal River Mining and Coal River Processing laying off 280 people in October!  Company officials warned of more layoffs, because they’re shutting down their warehouse and business ops also.  They blame a crash in the coal market and new government laws.

Wisconsin: ‘Professional’ education service Lorman Education Services killing 42 jobs in October.  Company officials blame it on what I call DSS (Disappearing Student Syndrome).  The privately funded education company has been laying off employees since 2009.

11-12 August 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

Sears & Kmart closing update, 17 October 2014: More Sears shutdowns for January, 390+ jobs lost, Happy New Year!

Sears Holdings has officially begun selling off its 40-million common stocks of Sears Canada!

Sears Canada has a new CEO, Ronald Boire of Sears Holdings.  Boire has been working for Sears Holdings since 2012.

Another New York Sears & Auto Center shutting down in January!  A tip from a BBN reader gets official confirmation!

A Pennsylvania Sears & Auto Center shutting down in January!

North Carolina losing a Sears in January!

A Virginia Sears & Auto Center shutting down in January!

After 25 years, a Oregon Sears shutting down in January: “It isn’t an isolated event that’s happening in Albany. They’re struggling nationwide.”-Betsy Penson, general manager Heritage Mall

update 16 October 2014

Here’s the updated list of U.S. Sears/Kmart store closings 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).

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).

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).

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

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!), 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. 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 Sears at Washington Square Mall (91 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).

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost),  recently revealed Presque Isle 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).

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).

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).

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), recently revealed 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), recently revealed 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 Sears distribution center (200 jobs lost), also in Columbus Sears Product Rebuild Center (112 jobs lost), Marion Sears Auto Center (at least nine jobs lost), Springfield Kmart (68 jobs lost), Fairborn Kmart (66 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).

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), recently revealed Albany Sears (57 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), recently revealed Frazer Sears and Auto Center (97 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 CoolSprings 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), recently revealed Chesapeake Sears and Auto Center (82 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 (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).

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 11 – 12 August 2014: Illinois gets slammed, again! 84% increase in rent killing off small shops! Disney continues to kill jobs! No more Jelly Belly?

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Despite increased package deliveries, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) reported a $2-billion USD loss for their fiscal 3rd quarter!

California: In Glendale, Disney killed off 16 jobs at their Disney Toons studios.  In San Francisco, Therapy Home thrift store killed off by an 84% hike in their rent!  British empire military contractor and U.S. taxsucker BAE laid off another employee.  Freight company RAD Harvest killing 81 jobs in October.

Illinois: In Romeoville, cable TV company Comcast announced they will kill 112 jobs in September!  In Arlington Heights, tech company Intuit killing 104 jobs in September!  What housing market recovery?   In Chicago, real estate company Equity Office Management laying off 48 employees in September.  We Clean Maintenance & Supplies killing 107 jobs!  Geralex Janitorial Services laying off 67 workers.  RJB Properties making 41 employees unemployed.  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 Champaign, Kraft Foods laid off an additional 56 employees.  In East Moline, Jacobson Warehouse laying off 137 people in September!

Indiana:  Obama Care killed off yet another hospital.  This time Monroe Hospital is chapter 11 bankrupt busted and up for sale!  But it’s not all Obama Care’s fault, hospital officials also blame the greedy property owners.

Maine: Great Northern Paper announced that their “temporary” job layoffs are now “permanent”, 212 jobs lost!  Great Northern Paper shutdown their East Millinocket factory in February, and city officials say the company still owes them $700-thousand in taxes!   And in Bath, USN ship builder and taxsucker Bath Iron Works continues to kill jobs, this time 40 people now unemployed.

Maryland: What housing market recovery?  In Rockville, RoundPoint Mortgage laid off 68 employees.

New Jersey: In Washington, after 60 years McCormick’s Bicycle shutdown.

New Mexico: What housing market recovery?  The Greater Albuquerque Association of Realtors says July 2014 homes sale crashed 12.35% from July 2013!  However, the average sale price went up by 3.7%.

New York: In Vestal, Obama Care forcing Practicare Medical Management to kill 76 healthcare jobs in November.

Oklahoma: 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.”

Texas: In Austin, tech start up facilitator Conjunctured warning it could shutdown.  It might have something to do with their rent.   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: Reston based cell phone service provider NII about to be chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  The company offers Nextel service in Latin American countries, but is losing its ass to competition simply because it can’t (or wont) upgrade its download speeds.

08-10 August 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. Job Losses & Store Closings 08 – 10 August 2014: “It was…impossible to continue.” High cost of living tarnishing employment in the Golden State! Chicago Bears can’t pay their taxes!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

“They can’t afford to pay me what I’m worth; they can’t even match the pay at my last job. It makes me sad. I always thought that, in 10 years, I was going to be awesome. Now here I am, just trying to survive.”-Valerie Colter, typical Californian

California: Southern California Edison laying off 410 people in October! In San Francisco, iconic Candlestick Park being torn down, its fixtures being auctioned off!  Los Angeles County reports a 57% drop in manufacturing jobs since 1990!  Esmael Adibi, of the A. Gary Anderson Center for Economic Research at Chapman University, said companies can’t handle the high cost of doing business in the Golden State: “They look at stuff like taxation, energy costs and housing costs, and it becomes a business decision.”

Connecticut: In Stamford, after 24 years Littlejohn’s children clothing store shutdown.  The co-owner blamed a lot of factors that have crashed their sales since 2008, but she said the final straw was when the greedy landlord jacked up the rent: “…an unattainable rent increase. It was honestly too much of an increase. It would be very difficult, really, or impossible to continue.”-Anda Weyher

Florida: In Polk County, Chapters Health System killing 89 healthcare jobs at their LifePath Hospice, Good Shepherd and Chapters’ palliative care and pharmacy programs.  Hospital officials directly blamed Obama Care (Affordable Care Act) for drastically reducing payments for people on Medicare and Medicaid, which make up 92% of Chapters Health System’s clients!  In Miami, reports that the Portugal based Too Big to Jail Espirito Santo Bank will be sold off.  The bank was bailed out by the Bank of Portugal, but is still a failure.  The ADP Regional Employment Report says new job creation fell 40% from July 2013 to July 2014!

Moved from Pocatello to Chubbuck in 1999, this Sears is finally dead!

Idaho: In Chubbuck, Sears Holdings finally decided to put their dying Sears store, at the Pine Ridge Mall, to death.  The store will close in October.  Also in Chubbuck, the 24 years old Carmike Cinema 7 was sold off to property developers and will be torn down.  Word is that the owner does not think it’s worth it to convert the theater over to digital.

Illinois: In Libertyville, the owner of Encore Theater group announced this is the last year of performances.  He took a job with another theater group.  The Chicago Bears American style football team have failed to pay Cook County $4.1-million USD in ticket sales tax!  The back due taxes go all the way back to 2003!

Indiana: In Summit City, after 40 years Rustic Hutch shutdown two furniture stores.  What housing market recovery?  In Evansville, Springleaf Finance announced they are shutting down their mortgage operation, 170 jobs lost!

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.

Michigan: In Minnesota, reports say a Office Depot is closing, but corporate officials refuse to comment.  In Ann Arbor, law school Thomas M. Cooley’s warned it could shutdown, blaming an 11% drop in enrollment (DSS, Disapearing Student Syndrome).  Who said the internet is killing brick-n-mortar ops?  After six years internet news source AnnArborChronicle.com to stop regular publishing in September.  United Airlines killing 109 jobs at the Detroit Metro Airport, in October!

New York: Cargo ship operator Eagle Bulk Shipping now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Company officials blame their financial dire straights on a crash in import/exports ever since 2008.

North Carolina: United Airlines announced they will kill 71 jobs at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, in October.  In Greensboro, Kmart announced it is shutting down in November, 69 jobs lost.

Texas: What construction market recovery?  BidClerk reports 2nd quarter 2014 construction funding crashed by $12.2-billion  compared to 1st quarter 2014.

Virginia: In Roanoke, First & Sixth Restaurant shutdown.

Washington: In Seattle, 15 businesses forced to shutdown because of construction of the Elliott Bay Seawall.  City officials swear it will only take nine months to complete, but history shows construction projects almost always take longer than stated.  However, city officials are paying the business owners compensation to ensure they can come back once the construction is done.

06-07 August 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. Job Losses & Store Closings 06 – 07 August 2014: “The potential effect on the economy….is huge!” Where’s the beef? as another meat plant shuts down! School sacrifices hourly paid employees to give big salaries to lazy people with college degrees! Yet another coal plant goes down! Office Depot caught ripping off California taxpayers!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

The iconic Great Depression era Tennessee Valley Authority killing more than 2-thousand jobs!  The multi-state federally funded utilities provider blames it on competition with for profit utility companies.  The TVA also revealed they suffered a net lost of $81-million USD during the spring quarter.

California: In Oakland, Sutter Health/Alta Bates Summit Medical Center laid off four more healthcare workers.  In San Francisco, British empire military contractor BAE laid off two employees.

Florida: In Oakland Park, Kmart announced they’re shutting down in November, 112 jobs lost!  Boca Raton based Office Depot announced they are shutting down an additional 165 stores by the end of 2014!  400 stores will be shutdown by the end of 2016!  This affects stores in the U.S. and Canada.  This announcement comes as Office Depot settle a lawsuit for $80-million.  The state of California sued Office Depot for overcharging state government buyers.

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.”  Also in Honolulu,  Haleakala Solar shutdown and consolidated operations to its warehouse in Halawa, no word on jobs lost.

Illinois: New Jersey based NGR Energy announced they’re shutting down one of their newly acquired Illinois coal fired electricity generating power plants, 250 jobs lost!

Kansas: U.S. Army’s Fort Leavenworth warned of 25-hundred civilian and military personnel job cuts!   Mark Preisinger, the mayor of the city of Leavenworth, cried out “The potential effect on the economy, not only in Leavenworth but across the entire metro area, is huge!”  One commerce analyst said 25-hundred job losses at the Army base would cause a domino effect, killing off 4944 additional regional jobs!

Kentucky: In Louisville, five people lost their jobs with the weekly newspaper LEO (Louisville Eccentric Observer), after it was taken over by the founder’s son.

Massachusetts: Peabody based medical imaging company Analogic announced they’re laying off 50 employees.  As a portent of the worsening economy to come, company officials said they need to reduce costs by $6-million starting in 2015.

Michigan:  The Flint School District laid off 36 non-teaching employees, but then turned around and hired on 10 people to salaried positions, all making more than $67-thousand per year!

Minnesota: The owners of well liked Santorini restaurant shut it down with out notice.  Local news speculated the family owners where in deep debt.  The only official statement from the family indicated they were forced to sell out.

New Mexico:  Santa Fe Community College revealed they’re short $5-million!  The temporary president of the school blames prior administrations for grossly overestimating revenues and handing out raises when the revenues could not support pay increases.  Now the school must cut back.

New York: In Buffalo, God refuses to stop the shutdown of the Buffalo Christian Center.  Greedy religious leaders are selling out to a property developer, claiming it will help them to better do ‘God’s work’.   The sale price was not revealed, but Coldwell Banker said it was well more than $1.44-million!   In Tea Neck, after 86 years Panettieri Brothers Manor Shoes shutdown.  In Amsterdam, Fiber Glass Industries announced they are shutting down in November, 66 jobs lost.  In Jericho, telemarketer CSC Holdings announced it is laying off 86 employees in November.  South Brookhaven Health Center West announced they will kill 93 healthcare jobs at their two hospitals in Shirley and Patchogue.

Oklahoma: In Muskogee, Sears announced they are shutting down in November, 60 jobs lost.

Pennsylvania: The Emerald coal mine being shutdown in 2015, due to crashing demand for coal (not those idiot environmentalist climate change freaks), 500 jobs will be lost!

Tennessee: In Jackson, after 43 years Market Fresh grocery store shutdown.

Texas: In San Antonio, after 50 years meat packer L&H Packing shutdown, 325 jobs lost!  Company officials blame it on the lack of beef cows, caused by ongoing drought.    In Houston, Haven restaurant shutdown.  The owner sold out to competitors, blaming the outrageous rent he was paying.

Wisconsin: In Fond Du Lac, Sears announced they are shutting down in  November, 42 jobs lost.

04-05 August 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. Job Losses & Store Closings 01 – 03 August 2014: “We’re simply burned out.” Christian leaders caught ripping off Christian school funding! WWE body slams employees! No more Circle Bar B! More job destruction by greedy property owners!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alabama: Alabama Power announced it is switching its Greene County coal fired electricity factory to natural gas.  It will also result in half the employees (about 60) becoming unemployed!  Company officials blame new federal government regulations, which has forced them to spend more than $3-billion USD to change over to natural gas!

California: In Santa Barbara, after 40 years the iconic Circle Bar B dinner theater horse ranch shutdown.  I went to one show (in the late 1980s), it was fun, but the owners of the property say expenses have gone up so much that revenues from the dinner theater aren’t enough, they are looking at other income generating possibilities.   In San Louis Obispo, the state prison known as the Men’s Colony announced they are laying off 66 psychiatric technicians over the next six months.  This comes after accusation that the state prison psyc system ordered technicians to falsify prisoner records.  But the real reason could be that the state is now sending prisoners to contracted mental health care, because the federal government is paying for it.  In Chatsworth, Switzerland based food producer Nestle issued a WARN saying they were killing 353 jobs in October!  State employment officials did not relay a reason, saying “not known at this time”.  In Long Beach, taxsucker Boeing issued a WARN saying 158 people will become unemployed in September!  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.”

Connecticut: Stamford based World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) killed off 60 jobs. WWE claims their revenue remains “strong” but it sounds like investors pushed for the job cuts.

Florida: 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.” What housing market recovery?  All across southern Florida the federal government seized 21 houses, accusing the Massachusetts (Boston Strong, actually based in Marlborough) based owner, TelexFREE, of scamming immigrants from Brazil and Dominican Republic to the tune of $1-billion USD!  By the way, Too Big to Jail Boston Strong (Fitchburg) Fidelity Bank just agreed to pay $3.5-million for their role in the TelexFREE scam.

Hawaii: In Kakaako, after only eight months the interior design eStyle Hawaii store shutdown!  The greedy landowner kicked them out!  The property is being redeveloped.

Idaho: In Blackfoot, after 15 years Tweedy’s Music shutdown.  The owners revealed there are two speculators competing to buy their property.

Illinois: In Chicago, Forever Yogurt shutdown two brand new stores!  Company officials blame lawsuits from property owners like General Growth Properties (GGP, I used to work for those jerk wads in Idaho).  The lawsuits claims Forever Yogurt owes backdue rent (I know how much GGP likes to charge in rent, and I wouldn’t pay either!).  What automotive industry recovery?  In Freeport, another round of layoffs with troubled Titan Tire, this time 48 employees let go.  Titan Tire supplies tires to farm and heavy equipment makers, and orders have crashed.  Freeport’s mayor is worried: “This is disappointing news at a time when we’ve already had our share of disappointing news.  We are deeply interested in the fate of this plant and its workers, and we’re willing to do anything we can to help because it’s important not only to the area but the entire state.”-Jim Gitz

Iowa:  In Cedar Rapids, British empire United kingdom based internet services company Hibu initiated a second round of layoffs. This time 44 U.S. citizens became unemployed.  Back in April of this year, Hibu killed 184 jobs!  Six of Hibu’s U.S. subsidiaries are already in chapter 15 bankruptcy protection.

Kansas: Virtual network company Chit Chat now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Company officials blame Sprint for questionable billings.

Louisiana: In Marrero, the Christian God refused to stop the Reverend Mansfield Thompson Educational Foundation from shutting down their Faith Christian Academy, with only a five day notice to “vacate”: “It was like unreal, unbelievable, that they would let us prepare to open and then send us a letter to close.”-Joycelyn Robinson, school administrator

But this shutdown is not about raptured students (what I call DSS or Disappearing Student Syndrome), but about evil Christian leaders caught stealing money.  At the end of 2013 a state investigation revealed Reverend Mansfield Thompson Educational Foundation was probably absconding with the money paid by struggling Christian parents: “At this point, I just want my money back. I paid $400 for registration and I’m getting the run around with that. I just want my money back!”-Ramira Williams

Michigan: In Taylor, Fitness USA shutdown the last of its three Taylor locations.  It might have to do with a discrimination lawsuit filed last year.

New York: In Carle Place, 1-800-Flowers announced it is restructuring, and killing off 220 jobs in October!  In NYC, Bloomberg Media killed about 25 jobs, and killed a TV show.  Company officials said they are “…shifting resources to regions outside of New York.”

Ohio: In Youngstown, the Mahoning-Youngstown Community Action Partnership (MYCAP) warned it will kill 10 jobs with its Head Start education program.  They blame the federal government for cutting off their federal food service funding.  MYCAO is also going away and Development Institute of Denver will take over the Head Start program temporarily.   The World’s largest household products maker (like diapers and detergent), Cincinnati based Procter & Gamble, announced they are killing 100 brands over the next two years, which will equate to job destruction.  Company officials say those 100 brands make up only 5% of their profits.  What housing market recovery?  In Solon, mortgage company ServiceLink announced they’re shutting down in December and killing 211 jobs!

Pennsylvania: Edinboro University warned of more layoffs by the end of this school year.  However, they hinted that if they can stay within budget, and don’t lose anymore funding, then the layoffs will be canceled.  In Lancaster, after three years Fork-n-Spoon Cafe shutdown.

Vermont: The State College system warned that budget cuts wanted by the governor will result in job losses.  The governor wants to cut $1-million in funding.  In May this year, Johnson State College laid off five employees and blamed it on DSS.

Washington: The budget cutting of Redmond based Microsoft will also affected hundreds (if not more) supply vendors/contractors.  Microsoft is suspending vendor access for six months every 18 months.  During those six months vendors/contractors will have to find employment elsewhere.  Local news reports say local vendors are already talking about abandoning Microsoft altogether!

31 July 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. Job Losses & Store Closings 31 July 2014: “we simply cannot make it through another season” TARP taxpayer ripoffs continue! Coffee company says Ohio sucks & they’re getting the hell outa there! More food crisis as slaughterhouses ask “where’s the beef?”! Road work killing mom & pops! Apple kills jobs in California! More raptured students killing Christian schools (DS Syndrome)!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alaska: What I call Disappearing Student Syndrome (DSS) forcing University of Alaska to shutdown the Bill Ray Center and Auke Bay bookstore, as well as kill jobs.  University officials say they’ve lost $1.4-million USD in funding this school year and are expecting to lose $2-million next school year, despite jacking up the cost to go to school (could increased employees benefits caused by Obama Care have anything to do with their financial problems? other schools have said so).

California: In Cupertino, Beats Music and Beats Electronics killing 200 jobs due to being taken over by Apple!  Thousand Oaks based legal drugs pusher Amgen announced even more job losses, this time 29-hundred people at four of their Colorado and Washington drug factories will become unemployed by the end of 2015!   Amgen has been described as one of “the least efficient” of the legal drug pushers.  In Corona Del Mar, after five years Bohemia clothing store shutdown. 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 Oakland, legal drugs maker Cerexa issued a WARN saying they are shutting down in September, 52 jobs lost.  In Palo Alto, tech company Hewlett Packard (HP) announced they were laying off 39 employees in August.  In Arcadia, Ohio based CNG and electric bus operator Foothill Transit (First Transit) issued a WARN saying they were killing 416 jobs in October! I couldn’t find any reports explaining why.  The cities of Modesto, San Bernardino and Stockton have made WalletHub’s Most & Least Recession-Recovered Cities top five list of cities least likely to recover!

Colorado: In Denver, Little Me’s children clothing store shutdown.  The angry owner blamed never ending construction: “I knew I would face many challenges in this venture, but in the twenty years that I have been shopping in Cherry Creek North, lack of foot traffic was not one that I had anticipated. It appears the construction is only going to move closer to our area and we simply cannot make it through another season like the last.”– Jennifer Riches

Florida: The Canaveral Port Authority announced it will kill 61 police jobs in October.  Those jobs will be taken over by the Brevard County Sheriff.  Port Authority officials also admitted that they had to fire four cops for stealing cash, and several others are under investigation (and who said the cops are there to serve us?).   This comes as the Port is expanding operations with funding from United Arab Emirates.  In Bradenton Macy’s shutting down, 131 jobs lost!  What housing market recovery?  In Jacksonville, yet again Too Big to Jail Bank of America killed mortgage jobs, this 13.  Bank officials told state officials they expect to continue killing mortgage jobs in the future.  By the way, bailed out banks in the Sunshine State lead the country in failures to pay back their bailout loans!  According to the Special Inspector General of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP) five Florida banks owe a total of $91.5-million to taxpayers!

Georgia: In Gwinnett, BrandsMart U.S.A. shutting down by the end of October, 80 jobs lost.  Turns out that being the most “environmentally conscious” retail operation doesn’t equal big sales.

Hawaii: The Kahala Shell Auto Care shop shutdown, 35 jobs lost.  The new owners will operate it as a fueling station only, blaming new land lease rules.

Idaho: In Boise, the Elk’s Rehab Center shutting down, 516 jobs lost as Saint Luke’s Health System takes over in September!  Reports say Saint Luke’s claims it needs only 400 employees to do the same job, so a net job loss of 116!

Iowa: In Des Moines, after 92 years (surviving the Great Depression & numerous recessions) Owen Crist Auto Body Service shutdown.  The family owners were bought out by property developers.

Michigan: WalletHub’s Most & Least Recession-Recovered Cities ranks the Failed State of Detroit as being the least likely of all failed U.S. cities to recover!

Mississippi: After 130 years (surviving the Great Depression & numerous recessions) God has decided to rapture all the good Christian students (or as I call it, Disappearing Student Syndrome, DSS) and shutdown the Christian Chamberlain-Hunt Academy!

New Jersey: Newark has made WalletHub’s Most & Least Recession-Recovered Cities top five list of cities least likely to recover!

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.  In NYC, Millennium Partners Sports Club (Reebok Sports Club) issued a WARN saying they are shutting down in October, 332 jobs lost! The company has been sold!

Ohio: 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.”   Despite reporting profits, Columbus based Too Big to Jail Huntington Bank killed 200 jobs across six states!  A bank official implied it was because they see the economy getting worse: “Huntington has restructured a few internal functions to improve the long-term efficiency of the bank.”-Maureen Brown

Texas: In Pearland, after 37 years Pearland Furniture shutting down in August.  The owners blamed the recession and a road project that has prevented customers from getting to the store.

Wisconsin: 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

29-30 July 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

Sears & Kmart closing update 07 October 2014: Suppliers getting charged more to deal with Sears-Kmart! Kmart is magnet for dumb criminals? Inside info on Pocatello store!

Reuters reporting that insurance companies which specialize in providing insurance (in the form of stock market put options, aka accounts receivable put) for non-payment of services have jacked up their rates for any merchandise supplier doing business with Sears-Kmart.

On top of that one insurer, Euler Hermes Group, refuses to insure any new suppliers to Sears!

Analysts say these decisions by ‘financial intermediaries’ come at the worst time possible, the end of year holiday shopping season.  Some suppliers told Reuters that the cost of the accounts receivable insurance is so high that they might have to stop shipments of merchandise.  But to show you how desperate the economy is, many suppliers told Reuters that selling merchandise on bad credit to Sears-Kmart was their only choice!

Does Kmart attract dumb criminals?  In Florida a wheelchair bound man shoplifted $1,396 USD worth of merchandise (including a TV), then asked for help getting out of the store!  He’s was arrested.  Local news reports say he actually requested to be involuntarily institutionalized under Florida’s mental health law.

In Alaska, a woman was shot dead in a Sears parking lot.  Police won’t comment on how she got shot, the pistol was next to her body.  But get this, local news reports said the police got a 911 call at 14:30 hours, but the lady’s body was still in the parking lot ’till after 15:15 hours, with happy Sears shoppers walking right by!  No report on when the shooting actually took place.

The state of Washington joins the Xmas shutdown club!

In Pocatello, Idaho, insiders at the Kmart have revealed disturbing, but not surprising, news.  Despite the neighboring Sears shutting down this month (it’s literally across the street in the city of Chubbuck) it appears there are no plans to increase the current Craftsman line being sold at the Kmart, and no plans to start selling Kenmore appliances at the Kmart either.

It appears the store is in a ‘holding pattern’ as stressed (and unnamed) personnel stated that Sears Holdings refuses to give any clue as to the plans for the Pokey Kmart.

some kinda shell game?

Here’s the updated list of U.S. Sears/Kmart store closings 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).

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).

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).

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

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).

Hawaii: Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost!), 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. 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 Sears at Washington Square Mall (91 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).

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).

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost), Presque Isle Sears (80 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).

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.

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).

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 indicates Ithaca Sears Auto Center shutdown.

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).

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 Sears distribution center (200 jobs lost), also in Columbus Sears Product Rebuild Center (112 jobs lost), Marion Sears Auto Center (at least nine jobs lost), Springfield Kmart (68 jobs lost), Fairborn Kmart (66 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).

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).

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).

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 CoolSprings 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’re reporting that the building has just been 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).

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), recently revealed 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 (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).

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 29 – 30 July 2014: “I guess our season is…ending.” “They did the people wrong!” Once again, thousands of jobs killed in California! Disappearing Student Syndrome killing jobs at 5 universities in 1 state! Automotive industry continues to off shore jobs!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Proof we are in a Greater Depression: A new academic study says wealth inequality is double what it was during the Great Depression!  Wealth Levels, Wealth Inequality, and the Great Recession 

Qatar based Al Jazeera America warned of more layoffs for its U.S. employees.  Possibly 20 people, despite increased ratings.

Alabama: Furniture maker izzy+ announced they are shutting down their Florence factory by summer 2015, about 200 jobs lost!

Arkansas: What automotive industry recovery?  In Rogers the largest maker of aluminum wheels for cars, Superior Industries International, is packing up and moving to Mexico, 500 jobs lost!

California: San Francisco based GameSpot laid off at least six employees, as the video game company shifts more towards live game play.  Moss & Stone issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down in September, 104 jobs lost! Millennium Partners Sports Club issued a WARN saying they are shutting down in October, 189 jobs lost!  In Fresno the local ABC affiliate, KFSN, laid off 15 employees. It’s the result of the cancelation of the TV station’s involvement with Disney’s Live Well Network. In San Diego, Trius Therapeutics laying off six people in September.  In Fort Irwin (U.S. Army), taxsucker Northrop Grumman issued a WARN saying they will kill 423 jobs by October! Northrop Grumman has been killing hundreds of jobs at the U.S. Army training center since 2013, and even more layoffs are planned.  In Twentynine Palms (USMC), Alaska based taxsucking government “support contractor” Tatitlek Corporation issued a WARN saying they will kill 2562 jobs by the end of September!  The company provided actors/roleplayers, food service workers, laborers etc for the U.S. Marines’ Iraq/Afghanistan combat training “villages”.

Georgia: What housing market recovery?  The city of Sandy Springs has placed a 60 day ban on the construction of new apartments.  Apparently they think all this apartment building is getting out-a-hand.  In Atlanta, New York based advertising company BBDO laid off as many as 30 employees.  Apparently they are being replaced with new hires who’ll work for cheap.  Reports say finance tech company NCR killing 200 jobs in 2015, but company officials refused to confirm.   After more than 42 years cereal maker Kelloggs 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

“…I was planning on retiring this year anyway, but I feel bad about the other people. It’s hard enough finding a job, and people here in Columbus know they don’t have too many good jobs around here.”-Mildred Baskin

Illinois:  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.”

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.

Mississippi: Obama Care causing Singing River Health Systems to shutdown two more clinics, in August.  Reports say they’ve already shutdown a third clinic.  Earlier this year auditors said Singing River was suffering from a shortfall of $88-million USD!

Nevada:  What automotive industry recovery? Reports say construction on one of two secret Tesla Motors Gigafactories in Reno was stopped.  No reason given, Tesla officials refused coment.  The Gigafactories supposedly will make lithium-ion batteries for electric cars.

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.”

New York: Obama Care killing 231 jobs as the Rivington House Healthcare Facility shuts down by the end of November!  What housing market recovery?  In Albany, Capital Region Multiple Listing Service showed home sales dropped 5% from June 2013 to June 2014.  Median home prices fell 6%.  Also in Albany, accounting company Pricewaterhouse announced it is shutting down in October, 40 jobs lost.  In Westbury, metal parts maker John Hassall revealed they are up for sale, 83 jobs affected.

North Carolina:  Obama Care killing jobs at Dosher Memorial Hospital.  An undisclosed number of part time and contracted workers will be laid off.  One nurse said she was told it was just the “first round” of layoffs.  Randolph County Schools laid off 30 employees.   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.

Ohio: In Berlin, after 100 years (surviving the Great Depression & numerous recessions) Shrader’s Store shutdown.  It’s being auctioned off in August.

Oklahoma: After 50 years the JC Potter Sausage factory in Durant shutting down in September.  The JC Potter Sausage brand was sold to Williams Sausage Company, but for some reason it did not include the actual factory.  In Tulsa, 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

Pennsylvania: State education officials warned of massive layoffs at five Universities: Clarion, Edinboro, Cheyney, East Stroudsburg and Mansfield.  According to state officials their university system has been experiencing what I call Disappearing Student Syndrome (DSS), and get this, they expect to lose another 1-thousand students by the end of this school year!  At least 44 university employees were laid off last year.

Tennessee: 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: What housing market recovery? In Austin, the Villa de Soliel mansion being auctioned off in August, reportedly with no set minimum starting bid!

26-28 July 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