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Business/Economics

“the economy went into the dumpster” “Technology has taken over”: U.S. Retail/Banking/Service sector collapse, February 2017

Incomplete list of U.S. retail/banking/service sector job loss announcements and shutdowns made or announced in February 2017:

Alabama: Birmingham based Regions Bank shutting down 27 offices across the U.S. “based on traffic, volume, proximity of other branches, profitability, and other factors.”  After 40 years Jewels by Rose shutdown, the retiring owner revealed how her mother, the founder of the store, learned about jewelry: “She started learning about jewelry from her World Book Encyclopedia at home.”-Donna Jowers, current owner

Arkansas:  After 25 years Cheap Thrills thrift store shutdown with no explanation.

 California: Vernon based clothing retailer BCBG Max Azria Group finally revealed it must shutdown 120 brick-n-mortar stores across the United States. Having a website can’t stop clothier Nasty Gal from suddenly shutting down brick-n-mortar stores in Los Angeles and Santa Monica, 98 people laid off without warning.  Brisbane based bebe (aka Bebe Stores) shutting down 25 stores due to a sudden and unexpected crash in clothing sales (yes, they have a website).  Hat seller Valley CAPS shutting down its Stockton location, 34 jobs gone by mid-April. Clothier VF Outdoor shutting down its ops in Alameda, 52 jobs lost by mid-April. Parking lot and transportation service company SP Plus suddenly shutdown their Glendale operations, 84 jobs lost. LPL Financial issued a layoff WARN for its San Diego location, 133 jobs lost by mid-April!  In Pomona, after 83 years Coates Cyclery shutdown, the owner blamed his own suppliers for competing with him on the internet, and said bicycle service work doesn’t pay enough to keep them in business!

Connecticut: In Stamford, British empire based Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) issued yet another layoff WARN, ten jobs lost in April.  Retailer Benny’s suddenly shutdown one of its five locations in the state, local news media say the local retailer has been in business since 1924.  Consignment store Cedar Chest shutting down its Branford location in March, due to not being able to renew the lease.

Florida:   In Tampa, Powerhouse Gym shutdown its Channelside location, blaming rent increase and lawsuits. Law firm Binder&Binder shutdown its Tampa office, 75 jobs lost.  In Bradenton, after 67 years Pierro’s Jewelers shutting down as soon as the inventory is gone.

Georgia: Cartersville Jewelry Exchange shutdown three locations.  The owner is going back to running just one store saying “There’s more to life than money…”   In Columbus, after 74 years iconic five stories tall Raymond Rowe Furniture shutting down as soon as the inventory is gone.  Video Warehouse shutdown its Valdosta store.

Idaho: Burley based King’s Variety continues its slow death spiral, announcing it will continue shutting down stores.  King’s is down to just 19 stores across six states: “The retail climate has radically changed in the past decade….Brick and mortar stores need feet and faces to survive as we have salaries, rents and other costs to cover. Unfortunately for us that is not the current landscape.”

Illinois:  In Chicago, United Airlines WARNed it will layoff 3-hundred people starting in April, as part of its restructuring plan!  In Chicago, California based clothier GAP shutdown its store on North State Street.  State Farm insurance issued a layoff WARN for Bloomington, 78 jobs gone by the end of April.

Indiana: In Evansville, Combs Landscape and Nursery shutting down so the owner can focus on other projects.  In Indianapolis, after three years VeloWorks Urban Cyclery shutdown.

Kansas: Topeka based shoe seller Payless warned that it is in negotiations with creditors that could result in as many as 1-thousand store shutdowns!

Kentucky: Having a website can’t stop clothier Nasty Gal from shutting down its distribution center in Sheperdsville, 70 jobs lost in April.

Louisiana: After 70 years the Alexandria Golf & Country Club shutdown due to lack of dues paying members.

Maine: Dying Radio Shack shutdown a store in Bucksport.

Maryland: After 62 years La Plata TV & Appliance shutdown.  After 36 years Carpenter’s World of Music shutting down by April: “Ever since the economy went into the dumpster and the competition of the internet, it just hasn’t been fun.”-Ken Carpenter

Michigan: In Kalkaska, after 39 years Cornell’s Crossing Hallmark shutting down by the end of March.  The country’s largest retail christian chain store is now dead.  After 85 years Family Christian Stores shutting down all 240 stores, 3-thousand jobs lost by the end of April! Instead of blaming god, Family Christian Stores admin blamed their fellow christians for crashing sales!  In Kalamazoo, after 45 years Alfred E. Bike shutting down as soon as the inventory is auctioned off.  The auction is being held on the internet.  In Bay City, after 117 years (surviving The Great Depression) Utermalen’s Furniture shutdown, the owners say sales never recovered from the crash of 2008.

Minnesota: 56 years old Saint Paul based ‘outdoors’ store Gander Mountain began shutting down and liquidating stores across the U.S.  Local news media said company administrators are refusing to explain, or say how many stores will shutdown.

Missouri: What automotive industry recovery? In Frederickstown, Barrett Jensen shutdown after 20 years of vehicle sales, the property has been used to sell cars all the way back to The Great Depression. In Kansas City, after 51 years Swirk Jewelry shutdown, the owner lamented “There used to be a lot of family owned stores here. There used to be a drug store, grocery store here. Today there is very little of that still here. A lot of the restaurants are chain stores…..it’s just different.”  Grandview based U.S. Toys shutting down five of its remaining six brick-n-mortar stores in April, to focus on the internet: “Our retail stores have been impacted by the economy, and people shifted to online shopping…..It’s gotten to the point where from a profitability standpoint, it didn’t make sense to keep our [brick-n-mortar] stores anymore.”-Seth Freiden, CEO

Nebraska: In Columbus, J’s Hallmark gift store shutdown for “multiple reasons”.

New Jersey: In Mount Laurel, PHH Mortgage eliminating 33 jobs in March.  Wayne based Toys’R’Us suddenly eliminated 250 corporate jobs, blaming crashing sales!  In Brick, after 27 years Bob’s Video Time shutdown, the owners admitted they should’ve shutdown two years ago.

New York: In Vestal, after 46 seasons ski store Cliff House shutting down when the current ski season ends, the owner wants more time with his ill son.  In Gloversville, True Value Hardware shutting down, local news media says no details were released.  In Elmira, after eight years Hills,Valleys & Streams shutdown “due to lack of slaes” in the past two years.  The owners swore over and over to local news media that sales “were great” until two years ago.   In Potsdam, Misty Hollow arts & crafts shutting down by the end of April: “Times were different 25 years ago. That’s the bottom line.”-Karen G. Sidletsky, owner

North Carolina: Mooresville based home improvement retailer Lowes laid off 430 HQ employees and another 95 corporate ‘support’ employees elsewhere! This is on top of last month’s announced plan to kill 2-thousand 4-hundred full time jobs at stores and distribution centers across the United States!  In Winston-Salem, The Other Half gallery shutting down in March.  The Sanctuary of Davidson artisan gift store shutting down in March, not sure if you can blame the internet because loyal customers were notified by email.

Ohio: Maumee based agribusiness and farm retailer Andersons shutting down all four stores, laying off 920 people by the end of April!  It’s blamed on millions of U.S. dollars in losses over the past eight years.  In Geneva, after ten years pet store The Green Leash shutting down in March.  Your Home by Goldsteins Furniture shutting down a store in Boardman, the building is being sold.  In Madeiro, after ten years La Silhouette Lingerie shutdown.

Oregon: Happy Knits shutdown its brick-n-mortar store in Portland (Happy Knits has a website).  Clothier Lucy Activewear now dead after after being absorbed by troubled competitor The North Face. It’s unknown how many Lucy Activwear stores will be shutdown: “Just in the last eight years, the growth in competition has really been intense from a lot of brands….Our intention is to have them closed by the end of 2017 or very early 2018.”-Dawn Dzedy, Lucy Activewear

Pennsylvania: In Waynesboror, after 39 years Schier’s Furniture liquidating and shutting down, the owner says he can no longer compete.  After 27 years Polo Ralph Lauren shutdown its store in Philadelphia.  In Carlisle, after 43 years Midway Skating Center sold-off and shutting down due to “the high costs associated with maintaining such a large facility and the increasing pressure on young people’s time”.

South Carolina:  In Charleston, after six years upscale women’s clothier Rapport shutdown saying “We don’t have enough business to make it practical to continue to operate.”

Tennessee: In Chattanooga, after more than 25 years River City Bicycles shutdown blaming “the purchasing habits of today’s consumers”.

Texas: Despite a slight uptick in profits at the end of Gregorian year 2016, Plano based U.S. retail icon JCPenney says as many as 140 stores could be shutdown by May, and on top of those employees losing their jobs due to the shutdowns, apparently an additional 6-thousand employees will be offered voluntary buyouts (bribes to quit)!  In Plano, Forex Capital Markets eliminating 56 jobs in April, blaming federal regulators.  In Grapevine, Fidelity Investments laid off 98 people.    Seaway Bank & Trust failed, assets turned over to the State Bank of Texas.  In El Paso, after 13 years bowling alley Fiesta Lanes shutdown due to financial problems.  After years CC’s Discounts shutting down its store in Abilene. You shouldn’t blame the internet because after all they posted the following on social media: “The industry has become a market of great competition and increasing difficulties in meeting my obligations to employees and customers.”

Vermont: Decades old Brownsville General Store suddenly shutdown, a real estate agent revealed that store was out up for sale the month prior.

Virginia: In Blacksburg, after 14 years Mad Dog Boutique shutdown despite pleas from potential customers to stay open, the owner saying she can no longer compete.  God powerless to stop ‘his’  British empire based Salvation Army from shutting down its Waynseboro thrift store, due to lack of sales.  The Bristol Mall GameStop shutdown.  Clothier Misty Mountain Designs also shutdown its Bristol Mall location, the owner blames Sears: “The decision to close the mall location was made when Sears announced they were closing……I contacted management to find out if they had anything coming behind Sears …..it feels as though they’re considering the mall for another type of use.”-Sue Smith

Washington: Too Big to Jail Bank of America shutting down its Bremerton office in November.

Wisconsin: In Madison, after “90 wonderful years” Mallatt’s Pharmacy & Costumes shutdown.  Local news media reported that the pharmacy portion of the store actually ceased ops back in October.  The owner said he’s focusing on his Homecare Pharmacy operations.  In Milwaukee, Zita’s Bridal Salon shutting down by April, after 90 years of being one of the “most exclusive” women’s clothing stores in Wisconsin.  Jeri’s Hallmark in Valley View Mall shutdown.  In Wauwatosa, after almost 80 years The Map Store shutdown: “Technology has taken over……So much of our customers don’t need us anymore, they have a cell phone. Technology is devastating. It was a blessing for creating maps, but not for selling them.”-Jan Swain, owner

Retail/Banking/Service sector January 2017: “I DON’T SLEEP AT NIGHT, IT’S KILLING ME”

SEARS KMART DEATH SPIRAL UPDATE, MARCH 2017

Dumbing Down the U.S., February 2017: OBAMA KILLS 200 COLLEGES!

U.S. Tech communications breakdown, February 2017: “REDUCE STAFF…BY 30%.”

U.S. Mining/Industry/Logistics layoffs, February 2017: “INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION PROGRAM”

OBAMA LEGACY: U.S. APPAREL INDUSTRY DEATH-SPIRAL

OBAMA LEGACY: “…A SEVERE RECESSION…”

OBAMA LEGACY: TRADE DEFICIT AT RECORD LEVEL?

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification.

I found a 2010 AFL-CIO analysis (titled The Public Availability of WARN Notices: Lack of Accessibility and Disclosure…) which proves what I’ve been suspecting in my search of state WARN notices; most states are not complying with federal WARN regulations and are not publicizing or tracking mass layoffs.

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

U.S.

The Great Reneger: Trump fails after tens weeks in The White House!

16 April 2017 (01:15 UTC-07 Tango 06) 27 Farvardin 1396/19 Rajab 1438/20 Jia Chen 4715

“We are going to have to stop being the policemen of the world.”-Donald Trump, September 2016

Since Donald Trump began his U.S. presidency, U.S. ‘police actions’ around the world have increased.  (Trump Flip Flops……War Spending Now Priority)

“Right after his election I said that all will depend on how quickly the existing machine of power will break Trump’s election pledges. It needed ten weeks. …..the [Trump] administration has proved its extreme dependence on the opinion of the Washington establishment, which the new president criticized so strongly in his inauguration speech.”– Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister of Russia

THE GREAT RENEGER: TRUMP NOW LOVES PARTS OF OBAMACARE!

“GO DONALD TRUMP! YOU’RE NOTHING COMPARED TO ME!”

THE GREAT RENEGER: OBAMA DEPLOYS ADDITIONAL MARINES TO AFGHANISTAN!

“Meet the new boss, same as the old boss!” 

International

Alabama Militia defends Kuwait at U.S. taxpayer expense!

16 April 2017 (00:54 UTC-07 Tango 06) 27 Farvardin 1396/19 Rajab 1438/20 Jia Chen 4715

“We have six-gun trucks in first platoon and six gun-trucks in second platoon…..In the event that we had to escort a convoy with all of the assets that we have we would have a total of 12 securing the entire convoy.”-1st Lieutenant Kolby Jarquin

Alabama National Guard’s 1670th Transportation Company, now deployed to Kuwait, conducted live fire convoy defense training: “In Alabama we do not have the ranges like this, so we are taking advantage of the Udairi range complex out here, to be able to conduct this training.”– 1st Lieutenant Kolby Jarquin

According to U.S. military data, Alabama militiamen fired at 11 targets using M2 .50 caliber (12.7mm) and M240 .30 caliber (7.62mm) machine guns, burning through approximately 5-hundred rounds per vehicle.

The newly developed convoy defense live fire range will now be used by future Area Support Group Kuwait units.

International

U.S. armor shoots up border near Russia! Personnel wounded by gas attack?

Video

According to U.S. military sources, four U.S. Army 19-Kilos (M1 Abrams crew-members) from Fort Carson, Colorado, were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning after a “malfunction” of their Panzerkampfwagen.   It happened sometime around the beginning of April 2017, one 19K had to be sent to a hospital in Germany for further treatment.  No details about the malfunction were released.

An M1A2 from Fort Carson, Colorado, pops a canister of purple smoke on a range on Adazi Military Base, Latvia, 09APR2017. The smoke color signifies loss of global positioning systems and loss of radio communication to the other vehicles on the range. U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Shiloh Capers.

NATO member United States deployed an armor unit consisting of M1A2 Abrams to the eastern European country of Latvia, to conduct live fire training on Russia’s border:

 

M1A2 pops a canister of yellow smoke on a range in Adazi Military Base, Latvia, 09APR2017. The smoke color signifies Nuclear, Biological or Chemical conditions, a considerable environmental change in the scenario. USA photo by Sergeant Shiloh Capers.

Canadas new base in Latvia, part of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence operations on Camp Adazi, Latvia. Canadian Forces photo by Corporal Colin Thompson, 13MAY2017.

Also, in an instigatory act, NATO member Canada deployed military units (some from Alberta Province) into Latvia’s eastern provinces (districts), which just happen to be populated by ethnic Russians (almost half of which are not considered official citizens of Latvia).

More Canadian Armed Forces members arrive in Latvia, at Riga International Airport, for Operation Reassurance. Canadian Forces photo by Master Corporal True-dee McCarthy, 10JUN2017.

The most recent The Globe & Mail report says the Canucks will be “permanently garrisoned” in eastern Latvia.   According to a CBC report, the Canucks will not only be ‘defending’ eastern Latvia from Russians, but from ‘fake news’ as well! 

It’s all part of NATO’s latest instigation against Russia, called operation Enhanced Forward Presence.  The NATO-Canada units in Latvia are specifically part of Enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup Latvia/Operation Reassurance.

Me riding C-130 on the way back to Idaho from a ‘friendly’ with Canadian armor in Alberta, in 2002.

NATIONAL GUARD RESPONDS TO CHEMICAL ATTACK(?) IN ARIZONA!

VEHICLE ID: U.S. ARMY M1A1 SEPV2 GRAFENWOEHR

IDAHO FEMALE BECOMES 1ST EVER U.S. PANZERFRÄULEIN!

WORLD WAR 3: “THIS IS WHERE ARMOR FIGHTS!” IDAHO NATIONAL GUARD RETURNS TO COLD WAR ERA

Business/Economics

“involuntary separation program”: U.S. Mining/Industry/Logistics layoffs, February 2017

Incomplete list of U.S. Mining/Industrial/Logistics job loss announcements and shutdowns for February 2017.

The largest towing company in the United States, United Road Towing, is now bankrupt and dead?  The evil Too Big to Jail Wells Fargo is now in charge of selling off company assets to the highest bidders.  The bankruptcy is sudden as news reports said the company claimed it made profits in 2016, however, United Road Towing has actually been operating on debt financing and those debts now far outweigh any ‘profits’.  Ironically (yet normal for bankruptcies involving companies) the bankruptcy allowed yet more debt financing so that employees and suppliers could be paid!  There were reports the company expected to emerge from bankruptcy, yet I also saw reports that said the sale of assets had been approved.

Alabama: Beaulieu America shutting down its cable operations in Bridgeport, 332 jobs gone by the end of March!

Alaska: Taxpayer owned Alaska Railroad Corporation laid off 31 people and eliminated 29 positions, blaming an un-recovered economy for creating a forecasted loss of $4.9-million USD for 2017.

Arkansas: HVAC maker Trane shutting down its Fort Smith factory as part of its consolidation plan, 250 jobs lost over the next few months!

California: Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas eliminating jobs in Bakersfield and Los Angeles by the end of March.  Boeing eliminating 1-hundred-plus jobs in El Segundo and Huntington Beach by the end of April.  Upscale sun-glass maker Oakley issued a shutdown WARN for its Ontario operations, 78 jobs gone by the end of July.  The new owner of troubled apparel maker VF Contemporary Brands issued layoff WARNs for its Los Angeles and Vernon ops, 88 jobs gone by April.  Tax sucking maker of parts for inflatable boats, Wing Inflatables, warning that 1-hundred jobs in Arcata could be lost, if they don’t win a multi-million USD tax-sucking contract from the U.S. Navy for Special Warfare Boats!  Material handling specialist Elite Line Services (ELS) shutting down its Los Angeles location, 65 jobs gone by the end of April.  Washington based port operator Puglia Engineering suddenly backed out of its deal to take over a former British empire BAE pier in San Francisco, 184 jobs suddenly gone!  Administrators blame the U.S. tax-sucking British empire’s BAE for selling them a pig-in-a-poke as they discovered $9-million USD in damages to the pier caused by BAE!  Local news media reported that under BAE the pier employed more than 2-hundred people.

Connecticut: In Old Saybrook, Fortune Plastics eliminating 92 jobs by mid-April.

Delaware: What construction industry recovery? window and door maker B.F.Rich shutdown its factory and laid off 130 people!

Florida: In Milton, wholesaler H.T.Hackney eliminating 40 jobs by mid-April.  What construction industry recovery? Door maker Jeld-Wen issued a WARN saying 82 jobs in Kissimmee will go away by the end of March.  Jacksonville based rail transport company CSX announced it will eliminate 1-thousand management level jobs, calling it an “involuntary separation program”!

Illinois: In Chicago, greeting card maker Recycled Paper Greetings issued a shutdown WARN, 64 jobs lost between April and July. In Franklin Park, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco issued a shutdown WARN, 246 jobs lost by May!  Republic of China (Taiwan) based ocean going freight company Yang Ming Marine Transport eliminating 47 jobs in Downers Grove due to consolidation.  Ammo maker Olin laying off 17 people in East Alton as it moves ops to Mississippi.  Local news media reported that in-total more than 180 Olin jobs have left the state since last year!  After 160 years wholesaler distributor Newman & Ullman now dead, local news media were unable to get an official comment from the owner.  The company delivered anything from car parts to restaurant supplies.

Indiana: Texas based steel company CB&I issued a shutdown WARN for its East Chicago coke ops, 149 jobs gone due to loss of contract with Illinois based SunCoke Energy!

Iowa: What automotive industry recovery? Motor-home/RV maker Winnebago Industries suddenly eliminated an undisclosed number of jobs at its factory in Forest City, as well as reduce work hours for remaining employees.  In Cedar Rapids, product developer and promoter Raining Rose laying off 49 people by mid-March.  Americold Logistics issued a shutdown WARN for its Bettendorf location, 43 jobs lost by April.

Michigan: What automotive industry recovery? Penske Vehicle Services issued a layoff WARN, at least 165 people losing their jobs due to losing a contract with General Motors (GM)!  In Flint, American Spiral Weld suddenly furloughed 22 employees due to a sudden crash in sales.

New Jersey:  What construction industry recovery? Crowne Architectural Systems issued a mass layoff WARN for North Bergen, 2-hundred jobs lost by mid-April!  In Mount Laurel, PHH Mortgage eliminating 33 jobs in March.

New York: NRG Energy shutting down power plants across The Empire State, 131 jobs lost between May and June!  Envelope maker Cenveo issued a shutdown WARN for its factory in Orchard Park, 111 jobs lost between March and May!   Mattress maker Ascion issued a shutdown WARN for its factory in Eden, 39 jobs gone by the end of April.  What automotive industry recovery? Penske Vehicle Services eliminating jobs in Bufallo and NYC due to losing a contract with General Motors (GM).

Ohio: Enginetics issued a shutdown WARN for its factory in Eastlake, at least 28 jobs lost by July. Enginetics’ main customer is the tax-sucking U.S. military.  What automotive industry recovery?Penske Vehicle Services issued a WARN for its Lordstown ops due to losing a contract with GM.  Fiat-Chrysler shutting down its Jeep factory in Toledo, 3-thousand-2-hundred jobs lost in April!  Officially the shutdown is due to re-tooling, and production is expected to start back up by the end of the year, however, Toledo Molding & Die says it is forced to shutdown its factory (which supplies the Jeep factory) and layoff 30 people due to Jeep Cherokee production being moved elsewhere!   Another Jeep factory supplier, Piston Automotive,  laying off 52 people for the same reason; Jeep production is leaving Toledo!  DHL Supply Chain, yet another Jeep factory supplier, laying off 277 people!

Pennsylvania: Paper Works eliminating 147 jobs in Philadelphia by mid-April!  CEVA Logistics eliminating 29 jobs in Lewisberry, by April. What construction industry recovery? SBC Building Systems issued a WARN for its Ambridge location, 98 jobs lost by mid-April. In Avonmore, Akers National Roll/ Union Electric Steel eliminating 157 jobs between March and May!  Mesto Minerals eliminating 95 jobs in Washington and Montour counties.  CNX Coal Resources-Consol Energy laid off 2-hundred people due to a state Environmental Hearings Board restriction!

South Carolina:  Tax-sucking maker of fabric armor, DuPont-Kevlar, shutting down its six years old factory in Berkeley due to lack of sales.  Local news reports say DuPont claimed to have invested $500-million USD in the factory, but is now consolidating the work to other factories, resulting in 113 jobs lost in Berkeley County!

Texas: Mining (oil) company Vangard Natural Resources now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. The court approved $50-million debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing through evil Too Big to Jails Citibank, JPMorgan and Wells Fargo Bank.  Oil company Anadarko issued a layoff WARN for its Carrizo Springs ops, 85 jobs lost.  Switzerland based offshore oil company Transocean eliminating 120 Lone Star jobs!  Atwood Oceanics eliminating 86 jobs in Houston.  Storage tank maker PermianLide shutting down its factory in Kilgore, 70 jobs gone by March.  GE (General Electric) eliminating 250 railroad engine jobs in Fort Worth, remaining employees reduced to 32 hours work weeks!   What construction industry recovery? Indiana based mobile home maker Skyline WARNed that if nobody buys their Mansfield factory then all 105 employees will become unemployed by mid-April!  Skyline admin say the Mansfield factory hasn’t made a profit since 2014.

Virginia: Delivery Agent Holdings shutdown its Corzet operations, 134 jobs gone!  However, local news media contacted managers at the Corzet site who said they haven’t been told anything by corporate and the WARN was ‘news to them’, but I did some checking and discovered the shutdown WARN was issued back in December 2016, just shows you how ignorant employees can be (even management)!  In Roanoke, unnamed employees of Illinois based FreightCar America leaked a company memo to local news media revealing that 364 layoffs are in the works for April!  It’s blamed on crashing orders from the rail transportation industry.  Wilson Trucking issued a shutdown WARN for its Fishersville ops, 316 jobs gone by March!

Washington: Crown Resources-Echo Bay Minerals shutting down its operations in Ferry and Okanogan counties, 95 jobs gone by April.

Mining/Industrial/Logistics January 2017:  “INDUSTRY PLUNGED…WE WEREN’T NEEDED ANYMORE”

U.S.

“floods, pests, drought, land use”: U.S. Food Crisis, February 2017

Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of February, 2017: 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 and extreme weather.

Alabama:  Wintzell’s Oyster House suddenly shutdown its six years old Huntsville restaurant with only a one day notice, no reason given.

Arizona: Marana Hooters shutdown not by protesters, but by a $148-million USD state taxpayer funded road project.  Local news reports say the road project will block both access points to the restaurant.

California: Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop shutdown its five years old Vista location with only a one day notice to customers, blaming the landlord without giving details.  In Oak Park, after 28 years Louie’s shutting down by the end of March.  The location is for sale to help fund the owners’ retirement.  In Irvine, after more than 30 years Prego Ristorante forced to look for a new location by greedy landlord, affecting 55 employees.  Texas based Whole Foods Market shutdown their store in Davis due to sales failing to improve.  In Los Angeles, Auntie Em’s Kitchen shutdown, the owner went back to catering (because catering has lower operating costs).

Colorado: Broomfield based Noddles & Company conducting yet another round of restaurant shutdowns, this time 55 starting in April, blaming “negative cash flow”. Noodles & Co. also sold-off $31.5-million USD in stocks to raise cash.

Connecticut: In Middleton, after 80 years Cypress Restaurant shutdown. The owners of the oldest locally owned restaurant say they need to retire.

Florida: Bloomin’ Brands announced it will shutdown 43 Outback Steakhouses across the U.S. due to continued crashing sales.  Bloomin’ Brands reported a $43-million USD loss for its 4th quater of 2016! Bloomin’ Brands has been losing money and shutting down restaurants for years.

Georgia:  Texas based Whole Foods Market shutdown a store in Augusta due to sales failing to improve.

Illinois: After 88 years the Swedish Bakery shutdown due to “Changing times”.    In Loves Park, after more than 40 years Chen’s Cantonese Chef shutdown because the owner says he’s too old to keep running it.  In Chicago, restaurant Three Aces shutdown their seven years old Little Italy location.

Indiana:  In Indianapolis, Pizzology shutdown, the owner will supposedly try a new restaurant theme.

Iowa: In Cedar Rapids, BBQ This! shutdown to be replaced with something “new”.  In Des Moines, after six years Patton’s Restaurant shutdown, the owner is focusing on catering.

Kansas: In Manhattan, Rusty’s bar and Rusty’s Outback shutdown, the owners are now focusing on one operation.

Kentucky:  In Louisville, after 59 years Tim Tam Tavern up for sale as the current owner wants to move on.

Police rescued the Town & Country Foods fiberglass mascot from cow-nappers, back in 2014.

Maine: After more than four decades of beef, Town & Country Foods suddenly shutdown its Greene location.

Michigan: Battle Creek based food-maker Kellogg’s shutting down 39 distribution centers affecting at least 1-thousand-1-hundred jobs!  Believe it or not, the food-maker blames its failed attempt to stop Donald Trump for crashing sales!  Combination restaurant-movie theater Alamo Drafthouse Cinema shutting down by April due to the new owner not wanting to renew the lease.

Minnesota: In Saint Paul, Asian-Latin food joint Senior Wong Craft Bar shutdown.

Missouri: In Saint Louis, Monty’s Sandwich shutting down its North Broadway location due to being unable to renew the lease.  Condiment maker French’s Food shutting down their Springfield distribution center, 140 jobs gone starting in April!  The state  Department of Economic Development revealed they’ve known about French’s consolidation plan since January.  In Saint Joseph, after more than 30 years Weidemeir’s Truck Stop shutdown after being put up for sale.

Montana: In Billings, iconic 35 years old restaurant Rex suddenly shutdown, supposedly due to being sold to an employee.  The former owner believes the new owner has plans to re-open Rex.

Nebraska: In Omaha, after only two years Grane Whiskey Dispensary shutdown. Local news reports say the owner is fighting legal claims over alleged unpaid taxes concerning a different booze business.

Nevada: Decades old California based Du-Par’s Restaurant suddenly shutdown its six years old Las Vegas location earlier than publicized.  Local news media reported that it was having problems paying expenses.  Du-Par’s became famous for introducing 99 cent booze.

New York: Christian agnostic Warren Buffet owned Kraft-Heinz issued a shutdown WARN for their cheese ops in Campbell, 380 jobs lost starting at the end of May!  After 91 years Will Foods shutting down the distribution ops in Buffalo, 71 jobs lost between February and the end of March.  “Perishable Prepared  Food” maker Sabra Dipping shutting down their Farmingdale operations, 22 jobs lost between May and June.  Gormet Guru-United Natural Foods issued a shutdown WARN for their Bronx-NYC ops, 77 jobs lost by mid-May.  In NYC, Craftbar Restaurant shutting down at the end of April, 70 jobs lost due to “economic” reasons.  NYC based International Flavors & Fragrances warning of as many as 370 jobs lost over the next two years, because expected sales will not generate enough profit.   In Rochester, after more than a hundred years (surviving the christian imposed prohibition by pretending to be a cigar shop) Dicky’s Bar shutdown.  In Amherst, 27 years old Tandoori’s Royal Indian Cuisine and 17 years old Palm’s Banquets suddenly shutdown. Local news media speculated that the shutdowns are connected to a co-owners 2013 conviction concerning falsified tax returns.  Also in Amherst, TGI Fridays shutdown its decades old Transit Road location, no reason given.  In Brooklyn-NYC, Flatbush Farm shutdown blaming “floods, pests, drought, land use.”

North Carolina:  In Charlotte, after almost 20 years Phat Burrito shutdown, apparently due to losing customer parking spaces due to property re-development.

Ohio: In Fairfield, after 37 years Moon Garden restaurant shutdown, the owners are in their 70s and want to retire. Maumee based agribusiness and farm retailer Andersons shutting down all four stores, laying off 920 people by the end of April!  It’s blamed on millions of U.S. dollars in losses over the past eight years.

Pennsylvania: The Meadville based operator of area Burger Kings and Perkins restaurants, Unique Ventures Group, now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Local news reports says Unique Ventures Group owes $1.8-million USD in state and federal taxes! In Factoryville, Ray’s Supermarket shutdown, it was the only grocery store in the town.  The store manager lamented that doing business in a small town doesn’t pay the bills, saying “This building itself is too small to compete, we`re just too small. For 12 years we`ve been trying to do something to expand in town and there`s not much available, and what is available just is not feasible.”   France based food service contractor Sodexo issued a shutdown WARN for their ‘christian’ Temple University operations, 454 jobs lost by mid-May!   Soda pop seller ShopRite laying off 3-hundred people because sales crashed by 50% due to the city of Philadelphia’s 1.5 cents per ounce tax (on top of existing food taxes)! New Jersey based Canada Dry Delaware Valley eliminating 20% of its jobs in Philadelphia, because their soda sales crashed by 45%, again, due the city of Philadelphia’s 1.5 cents per ounce tax (on top of existing food taxes)!

Tennessee: After only one year and U.S. taxpayer funded incentives to build a $22-million USD factory in Kingsport, British empire Canada owned Pure Foods now chapter 11 bankrupt busted!  The company also promised to hire 275 Tennesseans, but local news media reported that food production at Kingsport was suddenly halted in October 2016 after the Canadian owners suddenly decided to consolidate operations.

Texas: In Houston, Luv Me Tenders shutdown its brick-n-mortar eatery saying it “didin’t make sense” to sign a five years lease.  Luv Me Tenders food trucks will continue to operate.  Austin based Whole Foods Market shutting down at least nine stores due to crashing sales, in stark contrast to last year’s hopeful claim of opening hundreds of new stores!   Without warning Austin based My Fit Foods shutdown all 50 stores! One local news report said some store managers were bold faced lied to about the shutdowns: “Despite other stores closing earlier in the week, upper management had assured Quiroz that her stores selling healthy prepared meals in The Woodlands would remain open. Saturday’s call felt out of the blue, but there were warning signs.”–Houston Chronicle

Vermont:  It was revealed that state tax collectors forced Flanders Market/North Tunbridge General Store/Chelsea’s Pizza House to shutdown in November! The owner of the stores re-opened them in December after settling the taxes, but then suddenly shutdown them all down in January/February, saying “Everything is financial”.

Virginia:  In Lynchburg, the TastyKake Bakery Outlet on Hollins Mill Road suddenly shutdown due to crashing sales.  University of Richmond shutting down its Center for Culinary Arts by June 30, blaming skyrocketing operating costs and crashing student enrollments.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

U.S. Food Crisis, January 2017: “IT’S GETTING TOUGH OUT THERE.”

Business/Economics, Idaho

Dollar General secretly executes Dollar Express & Family Dollar!?! Another blow to Chubbuck?

09 April 2017 (17:23 UTC-07 Tango 06) 20 Farvardin 1396/12 Rajab 1438/13 Jia Chen 4715

In my routine reading of state WARN (Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification) listings I discovered massive listing for Dollar Express shutdowns.  I’ve also found local news reports revealing that Family Dollar stores are also being shutdown.  This is connected to the takeover of Family Dollar by Dollar Tree in 2015, and the takeover of Dollar Express by Dollar General just days ago.

Is the Chubbuck, Idaho, Family Dollar about to bite the dust?

On 30 MAR 2017, Dollar Express notified Idaho Department of Commerce that its store in Emmett was shutting down.

In 2014 I wrote how Family Dollar was being sold to a company called Dollar Tree.   I also wrote how New York based Yankee One Dollar went out of business, blaming jacked up employee insurance costs due to ObamaCare. And in 2013 I reported how Idaho based Honk’s $1.00 suddenly died and was shutting down. Initially Boise news media claimed that no Honk’s stores were shutting down, until days after BlindBatNews posted the evidence, then the Boise main-streamers finally reported the shutdowns!

To get the takeover of Family Dollar approved, the federal government required Dollar Tree to sell-off more than 3-hundred stores.  Those stores became known as Dollar Express in 2015 under ownership of a vulture capitalist company called Sycamore Partners. At the end of March of this year Sycamore Partners quietly sold them to competitor Dollar General, who immediately began shutting them down.

Dollar General’s sudden takeover and shutdown of Dollar Express (not to be confused with car rental company Dollar EXPRESS) is interesting because in 2016 Dollar General administrators said they were about to embark on a massive expansion program.  The sudden shutdown of Dollar Express will kill 2-thousand-7-hundred jobs! That’s according to news media in the state of North Carolina, where Dollar Express is headquartered.

But wait, at the same time news reports are popping up around the country revealing that Family Dollar stores are shutting down as well.  A Family Dollar in Saint Louis, Missouri, and one in Saranac Lake, New York, are shutting down by the end of June.  It turns out that many of the Family Dollar stores sold-off in 2015, to create Dollar Express, were allowed to continue operating under the Family Dollar name!

What this looks like to me is a complicated game that the top U.S. ‘dollar’ store operators are playing with federal regulators, in an attempt to create a monopoly.  Many analysts say which Family Dollar stores will shutdown depends on if there is another dollar store nearby.   Keep in mind that dollar stores target poor people, yet because poor people don’t have enough money to support the dollar store industry desperate dollar store owners are trying to create a monopoly, it’s proof we’re in a depression not a recovery. Thousands of dollar store employees have lost their jobs since the U.S. dollar store wars began in 2013 (under the rule of Barack Obama)!

RUE21, HI-TECH RETAIL FAIL! ANOTHER BLOW FOR CHUBBUCK?

‘ZOMBIE’ PAYLESS SHOES SUDDENLY SHUTTERS 400 STORES! ANOTHER BLOW TO THE CITY OF CHUBBUCK?

MORE ECONOMIC DECLINE: VANITY DIES IN IDAHO

Business/Economics

Big Box electronics retailer suddenly dies!

08 April 2017 (15:48 UTC-07 Tango 06) 19 Farvardin 1396/11 Rajab 1438/12 Jia Chen 4715

After 62 years Indianapolis based electronics retailer hhgregg suddenly died, all 220 stores and 14 distribution centers shutting down by the end of next month!

Bankrupt hhgregg had until 07 APR 2017 to find a buyer, but nobody came through: “…we had discussions with more than 50 private equity firms, strategic buyers and other investors, unfortunately, we were unsuccessful in our plan to secure a viable buyer of the business on a going-concern basis within the expedited timeline set by our creditors.”-Bob Riesbeck, CEO

Administrators blame the death of hhgregg on years of crashing electronics sales and a failed attempt shift to other types of home appliances.

Hhgregg will add thousands more unemployed retail workers to the tens of thousands who will be unemployed by Summer:  RUE21, HI-TECH RETAIL FAIL!

‘ZOMBIE’ PAYLESS SHOES SHUTDOWN LIST OF 400 STORES!

VANITY DIES

MASSIVE MACY’S MELTDOWN!

JCPENNEY HIT-LIST REVEALED! 138 STORES BEGIN SHUTTING DOWN IN TWO WEEKS!

OBAMA LEGACY: U.S. APPAREL INDUSTRY DEATH-SPIRAL

U.S.

National Guard responds to chemical attack(?) in Arizona!

07 April 2017 (01:50 UTC-07 Tango 06) 18 Farvardin 1396/10 Rajab 1438/11 Jia Chen 4715

Arizona first responders and National Guard suit-up for toxic gas situation at animal hospital

On 06 APR 2017, employees at an animal hospital in Gilbert, Arizona, thought they smelled a gas leak.  When the fire department investigated they claim to have found a toxic gas “hazmat situation” and ordered an evacuation of the Arizona Veterinary Specialists clinic.

The National Guard’s 91st Civil Support Team was called in, as well as surrounding municipality’s HAZMAT teams.   Apparently first responders called it a hazmat situation because they determined it was not a gas leak, but they were not able to identify what was in the air.

Entering the Hot Zone in Level-A suits

14 dogs and one cat were evacuated, most were connected to medical equipment.  Local news media said the first dog brought out was in critical condition, but didn’t say if it was due to the toxic gas. Veterinarians who checked out the animals after evacuation don’t think the animal’s conditions are connected to the hazmat situation.

Local news media say the employees, and the fire crews that responded to the 9-1-1 call, were checked for contamination.  Finally, investigators determined the toxic gas was ethylene oxide, a chemical used to sterilize medical equipment.

Ethylene oxide is a flammable colorless gas with a sweet odor, and is also used to make toxic bug spray.

PITTSBURGH ASKS ARMY RESERVE FOR WATER!

NATIONAL GUARD PREPS FOR CATASTROPHIC EVENT!

Business/Economics, Idaho, Technology

Rue21, Hi-Tech retail fail! Another blow for Chubbuck?

06 April 2017 / 20:07 UTC-07 Tango 06 (18 Farvardin 1396/10 Rajab 1438/11 Jia Chen 4715)

Rue21 issued a massive 4-hundred store shutdown list, Idaho will lose two stores, click here for the list.  To find out which store is closing click on your state, then click each city listed, the stores that are closing will have “Closing Store” posted above the location name.

Will the relatively new rue21 store in the Pine Ridge Mall be forced to shutdown?

Will the relatively new rue21 store in the Pine Ridge Mall be forced to shutdown?

Unnamed sources inside rue21 told main stream news media that the ‘teen’ clothing retailer is about to go bankrupt, and has hired counselors who specialize in shutting down and/or selling off brick-n-mortar stores.

In Chubbuck, Idaho, the Pine Ridge Mall has a large rue21 store.  The store opened only four years ago. It never seems to have a lot of customers.

Other main stream news media reports say rue21 has massive debts and failed to make loan payments.  Suppliers have even stopped shipments of new clothes for fear of not being paid.

At the beginning of this year rue21 created new executive positions, claiming they would “propel the company forward”.  Last year rue21 was described as being the largest fast growing fashion retailer in the United States, apparently that was a lie.

Don’t blame the internet, or hi-tech, rue21 has a website and uses the latest retail tech platform called Aptos.  The use of hi-tech resulted in rue21 winning the Gold Award for Customer Engagement, just last year!

Last year’s technology upgrades were an attempt to revive the clothing seller, obviously technology failed.

‘ZOMBIE’ PAYLESS SHOES SUDDENLY SHUTTERS 400 STORES! ANOTHER BLOW TO THE CITY OF CHUBBUCK?

OBAMA LEGACY: U.S. APPAREL INDUSTRY DEATH-SPIRAL