Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of June, 2018: Many food suppliers/distributors are consolidating operations and killing jobs due to the collapsing grocery store and restaurant industries, as well as rising costs of food production, spread of disease, extreme weather, gentrification and government shenanigans.

The Spokesman-Review: Low returns for Northwest farmers may reflect a larger trends in international policy

Bumblebee blues: Pacific Northwest pollinator in trouble

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

ALASKA: 

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mellon, homeported in Washington state, patrols off the coast of Alaska in search of illegal fishing by foreigners: “The numbers for Alaskan fisheries as a whole for crab, pollock, Pacific Cod, halibut, Black Cod – all of it – is valued at about $6 billion, so it’s a very substantial amount of money. It is a massive food supply for the U.S. and the globe to some degree. It makes up a majority of seafood produce at the grocery stores today.“-Leutenant Gregory Mitchell, operations officer

Deadly M. ovi bacteria found in Alaska moose, caribou for first time

ARIZONA: In Tucson, after more than 20 years popular Luke’s on Grant sandwich shop forced to shutdown by the greedy landlord. Also in Tucson, admittedly leftist-liberal Revolutionary Grounds Books & Coffee forced to shutdown by the greedy landlord who wanted “…more rent. Lots more rent.”

CALIFORNIA: It cost $14-million USD to build and now just four years later upscale Singapore owned restaurant Crystal Jade Jiang Nan (opened in San Francisco’s elitist Financial District) is dead due to lousy tasting food and outrageous prices!   Kings Fish House Calabasas is shutting down (supposedly temporarily), 89 people jobless by September. Rexam Beverage Can Company issued a shutdown WARN for its factory in Chatsworth, 107 jobs killed in August!  Minnesota based Land O Lakes issued a layoff WARN for its dairy ops in Tulare, 84 jobs gone in August.   In San Diego, after 60 years Nati’s Mexican Restaurant shutdown, local news media pointed out that the property is one of the last of the largest privately owned pieces of land in the area. In Oakland, after 91 years Mexicali Rose shutdown, the owner retired to take care of her sick mother, local news media said loyal customers ordered extra meals so they could savor the flavors unique to Oakland’s oldest Mexican eatery.  In Bakersfield, TL Maxwell’s suddenly shutdown after 18 years, the owner’s wife says he needs more family time.  Mexico based Bimbo Bakeries shutdown its Oroweat Bakery Outlet, in Santa Maria, without warning thus pissing-off local customers: “I walked up to the building and there were little signs on the door saying they were closed. No reason.”-Tammy Manson Pardo  (Bimbo Bakeries told local news media they shut it down because they’ve become more efficient at making baked goods, meaning no excess for the outlet stores)

COLORADO: Denver based Chipotle announced plans to shutdown 55 more restaurants across the U.S., most to shutdown in July, the company has been in financial and health code trouble for the past few years.

FLORIDA: Caledon Concepts shutdown its Ceviche Tapas Bar and Restaurant in South Tampa, claiming to be looking for a new cheaper to lease location.  Also in South Tampa, Carmel Kitchen and Wine Bar shutdown, the property is for sale.  FDC Vitamins issued a WARN, 225 jobs in Miami Lakes gone by mid-August!

GEORGIA:  Waffle House suddenly shutdown its highly popular 50 years old restaurant in Athens, blaming it on the greedy landlord who wants to redevelop the property.

IDAHO: How Will Mexico Tariffs Impact Idaho?

A farm worker was found dead, yet still standing, leaning against fence post.

Pocatello family sues after child wounded by USDA anti-wolf cyanide land mine, family dog killed

Anti-dairy activists target Meridian Dairy Days

Dairy industry dwindling in Meridian

Keep agricultural land zoned agricultural

ILLINOIS:   Illinois Newsroom: Shortage Of Rural Veterinarians Puts Farmers, Food Supply At Risk

In Libertyville, after 24 years Bagels by the Book forced to shutdown by the greedy landlord.  Dean Illinois Dairy issued a shutdown WARN for its ops in Huntley, 131 jobs lost by the end of September!

INDIANA:   Monarch Beverage issued a layoff WARN, 76 jobs gone by the end of August.  The global dairy collapse hitting even Andrews University, which decided to shutdown its 111 years old dairy school in 2019.  The shutdown will not only affect students and employees, but 1-thousand-2-hundred cows: “In the last two to three years, we have lost between $750,000 and $900,000 a year!”-Stephen Payne, VP of integrated marketing & communication

IOWA: NuWorld Foods suddenly laid off 20 people in Dyersville.

KANSAS: In Wichita, Jerry’s Bar & Grill shutdown, the owners saying “It’s been 15 years, and we’re not as young as we used to be.”

KENTUCKY: In Lexington, after four years Ruby Jean’s Cafe shutdown, the owners saying only that it’s “the best decision for our family at this time.”

LOUISIANA: Louisiana cotton, corn hurt by drought

MAINE: Drug convicts Still Face Lifetime Ban from SNAP (food stamps) even after completing their prison/probation time, end up back in prison for stealing food!

Climate Change Brought a Lobster Boom. Now It Could Cause a Bust.

MARYLAND: Bill Bateman’s Bistro shutdown because “The construction next door is keeping a lot of the regular people away, and I don’t want to stand in the way of progress.”

MASSACHUSETTS: Restaurant Spud’s (named after the family’s patriarch, not the potato) shutdown it’s almost 30 years old Saugus location.  The owners blame it on crashing sales and skyrocketing costs in that area, they’re now trying to sell the building.  In Lynnfield, Roxy’s Grilled Cheese suddenly shutdown its MarketStreet location in Lynnfield, saying in an email “We were not able to make a profit at this location.”  In Longmeadow, after more than 41 years Rinaldi’s Italian Specialties shutdown so the owners can retire.

MICHIGAN: Dean Foods laid off 103 people at its Country Fresh dairy ops in Livonia, because its main buyer Walmart decided to build its own dairy!  Minnesota based General Mills laying off 53 people at its Yoplait yogurt factory in Reed City.  Indiana based Garden’s Alive! Farms-Berry Family Nurseries shutting down ops in Grand Haven, 3-hundred jobs gone by August!

MINNESOTA: General Mills suddenly laid off 625 people as part of its new “global cost savings initiatives”!  Dean Foods shutting down dairy ops in Thief River Falls, more than 50 jobs killed because its main buyer, Walmart, decided to build its own dairy!  In Fergus Falls, the SpartanNash owned Sun Mart grocery store shutting down, 50 jobs soon to be lost. In Hermantown, after less than eight years Farley’s Family Restaurant shutdown, the owners are focusing on catering only.  In Minneapolis, Grumpy’s Bar & Dining shutdown its Washington Avenue South location: “There’s been a thousand paper cuts like a few hundred food trucks roaming downtown daily, property taxes being ten times what they were when we opened, a building in need of overwhelming repair, etc. etc. etc. and it is what it is.”-facebook post

NEBRASKA: Akin’s Natural Foods shutdown its 40 years old Lincoln store.  Applebee’s suddenly shutdown their restaurant in Hastings, with only a weeks notice.

NEW JERSEY: In Morristown, wine shop The Grapeful Palate shutdown so the owners can pursue “new ventures”.  Food service contractor Aramark suddenly laid off 13 people in Plainfield.    British empire United Kingdom based Restaurant Associates-Compass Group issued a layoff WARN for ops in East Rutherford, 73 jobs gone by the end of July.

NEW YORK: Seneca Foods issued a shutdown WARN for food processing ops in Marion, 45 jobs gone by Xmas.  British empire United Kingdom based Restaurant Associates-Compass Group lost its U.S. funded contract with the Federal Reserve Bank, 65 jobs gone by the end of July.  New York Yankees Steakhouse issued a shutdown WARN for its Manhattan-NYC location, 75 jobs gone by September.  Restaurant Chevy’s shutting down its NYC location, 134 jobs gone by September!  Online food ordering service Munchery finally issued layoff WARNs for several locations, revealing that 80 New Yorkers were suddenly laid off last month.  In Latham, after four years Bull & Barrel Smokehouse Grill suddenly shutdown, no official reason given but local news media speculates it’s a bad location as it has a history of short lived eateries.  In Port Chester, after eight years ‘gourmet’ Tarry Market shutdown so the building can be redeveloped.  In Clifton Park, after 30 years Ferretti’s Family Restaurant shutdown, the owners saying they had agreed to keep the restaurant going for 30 years and it’s been 30 years.  In Rego Park-Queens-NYC, after 73 years Ben’s Best Delicatessen shutdown, the pissed owner blames leftist-liberal mayor Bill de Blasio for imposing a new bike lane that killed at least 25% of customer traffic: “I have had customers have their cars towed out of here, so you come for a really nice pastrami sandwich and you end up with a $115 ticket! The concept of neighborhood seems to elude this mayor. You know, like what’s good for Long Island City, isn’t good for Rego Park.”-Jay Parker

NORTH CAROLINA:  Employee at Fayetteville pizzeria put rat poison in cheese

In Durham, restaurant Nana’s shutdown supposedly because it was no longer worth the effort to keep it open.   Kroger announced it will shutdown its remaining 14 grocery stores in the Raleigh-Durham market, 1-thousand-5-hundred jobs gone!  It was also revealed that Germany based Lidl canceled plans to build a new grocery store in Cary.  Grocery store operators are saying there’s just too many grocery stores in North Carolina, meaning they can’t make a profit because of the competition.

OHIO: In Springfield, Bada Bing Pizzeria shutdown after six years. In Dayton, De’Lish Cafe shutting down by the end of July, the owner saying the past eight years has stressed her out.  After 44 years Geyer’s Fresh Market shutdown “Due to circumstances in the delay of the sale of the Galion store…”

OREGON: Oregon revokes permit for mega-dairy Lost Valley Farm

Cooking oil recycler accused by police of dumping 

Sunshine Dairy suddenly laid off 46 people at its Portland location, due to the sudden sale of the business as a result of bankruptcy.

PENNSYLVANIA: In Manheim, Molly’s Convenience Store suddenly shutdown, unknown number of layoffs. Dean Dairy Holdings issued a shutdown WARN for its Meadow Brook Dairy, in Erie, 71 jobs gone by October.   In Statington, after almost 90 years Galio’s Market-Slatington Beverage shutdown because of skyrocketing competition.  In Harrisburg, god’s own Orthodox Christian Charities-Agia Sophia Coffee & Books shutdown because “sales have declined significantly” despite efforts to make “innovative” meals.   In Gilbertsville, after 92 years Zerns Farmers Market shutdown due to not being able to find a buyer, and the costs of operation are now too high: “After much prayer, deliberation and financial analysis, we recognize that the current situation is not sustainable.”

RHODE ISLAND: Chow Fun Food Group shutdown its 21 years old XO Cafe, loyal customers were given coupons to other Chow Fun Food Group restaurants.

SOUTH DAKOTA: Anthrax strikes another cattle herd in South Dakota

TENNESSEE: In Knoxville, after 15 years Turkey Creek Wine and Spirits shutdown due to skyrocketing competition expected from a new booze ‘superstore’ moving into the area.

TEXAS: Is the Great Drought of 2018 Underway?

Texas Natural Meats Recalls Frozen Raw Ground Beef Products

TGI Fridays shutting down it’s restaurant in Tyler, “Due to business reasons”.   In Austin, popular Conan’s Pizza shutdown after 42 years, the owner bemoaned “The property taxes going up, the rent’s going up, the parking problem….”  Also in Austin, after 25 years Hoeks Death Metal Pizza shutdown, the owners promised “we’ll be back.”

VERMONT: After 25 years Junior’s Italian shutdown without warning in Colchester: “We have been working extremely hard over the past few years to make day-to-day adjustments and financial investments to improve our operations and maintain a financially sustainable business, however, our efforts were ultimately not enough.”-facebook post

VIRGINIA: Invasive plant with sap that can cause blindness found

WASHINGTON: 25,000 chickens die in blaze south of Olympia

Immigration puts hop growers in a pinch

Seattle based Starbucks announced plans to shutdown at least 150 locations by the end of 2019, blaming “the more rapidly changing preferences and needs of our customers”, but also admitting it’s really about creating “long-term shareholder value.”   Without warning online food delivery company Zaycon Fresh shutdown without a detailed explanation. Its website was replaced by a notice of suspension of operations. 

WISCONSIN: Daniels shutting down its grocery store in Janesville, 49 jobs gone in August. Piggly Wiggly issued a shutdown WARN for its grocery store in Menasha, 69 jobs gone in August.  In Algoma-Kodan, after 53 years Koenig’s Bar shutdown because the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection told the restaurant-bar owner she had to spend big bucks on upgrades that would have radically changed the way pizzas were made: “They wanted me to put a little pizza oven on the back bar and sell frozen pizzas instead of homemade. Well, people don’t want frozen pizzas, they want the homemade pizza!”-La Verle Koenig, feisty 81 years old owner (who also spent 50 years as the town clerk for Ahnapee while running the bar)

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

U.S. Food Crisis, May 2018: “THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT”