World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 12-13 April 2013. Business owner says the U.S. economy is the “Titanic…iceberg in sight”!

In California, AMS Fulfillment will layoff 200 people!  Company officials blame it on the loss of a major client. The Hanford Adult School officials warned they might have to layoff staff.  They blame the possible transfer of adult education to community colleges. The Technology, Arts, and Design High School closed down due to lack of enrollment.  Riverside County Superior Court to layoff 25 stenographers.  San Bernardino County Superior Court looking to reduce court reporters.  Despite having high profile customers the Empire Tap Room, in Palo Alto, shut down.  The owners blamed across the board increases to operating costs.  In San Marino, Fancy That! holiday supply store closed down.  In San Francisco, Freed, Teller & Freed coffee shop closed down.  The cafe opened in 1899, long before Starbucks was even an idea!  Xyratex moving operations to Mexico, leaving 300 Californians out-o-work!

Orthopedics company, Medtronic, laid off 50 people in Warsaw, Indiana.  Company officials blame the Obama/Romney Care medical device tax.

In New Mexico, 57 UNM Hospital employees lost their jobs.  The hospital contracted out their jobs to try and save money.

In Massachusetts, Quincy Medical laid off 30 nurses.  Tuell Nursing Home shut down after four decades of operations.  The operators blamed skyrocketing health care costs, and reduced Medicare payments under the Obama/Romney Care.  Amherst Woodworking shut down their 38 years old operation. The owner blame the bad economy: “We actually had a pretty good year in 2008, and then the bubble burst. Since then we’ve lost money.”-David Short

In New York, Horseheads Central School District plans to cut 70 positions.   Too Big to Jail Bank of America closing its branch on state Route 28 in the town of Olive.  Oswego Hospital closing its pediatric unit.  Cookie’s laying off 124 people in Fordham!  Store management blamed the bad economy.

Government communications and IT contractor, Harris Corporation, laying off up to 180 people!

In Muskegon, Michigan, Bon-Ton furniture store closed down.  20 employees out-o-work.  Art Van Furniture in Onaway closed down.  Owners blame lack of business.

The 50 years old Independence, Missouri, YMCA shut down.  Protestors pointed out that the YMCA was closing fitness centers in areas with “modest economics”.

In Louisiana, Charlie’s Seafood closed down due to a lease dispute.

Lockheed Martin creation and Department of Energy contractor, Technology Ventures, closed offices in Idaho and California.

Too Big to Jail Raymond James Financial laying off 160 people around the United States.  Company officials say they’re trying to get rid of “employee overlap”.

In Virginia, Petland in Roanoke shut down.  The owner tried to find a buyer for his store, but he said all potential buyers were refused business loans for some unknown reason.

Maker of plastic and metal containers, BWAY, consolidating two Texas factories into one, laying off 69 people.

In North Carolina, Meatballs on Main closed without notice, employees’ paychecks ‘bounced’.  The restaurant was open for less than a year.

In Hawaii, Farmers Insurance laying off 74 people.

The largest pool, patio and gameroom superstore in the United States, Branch Brook, closing stores in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware.  The shut down operation is being conducted by Romney style vulture capitalist company Gordon Brothers Group.

Plass Appliance & Furniture closing in Illinois.  Company officials say they plan to close all their Illinois stores and move to Florida.  In La Grange, the Clipper Ship Gallery shut down.  The owner of the 40 years old art gallery blamed the bad economy: “Businesses like ours that depend on discretionary spending have found it very difficult.”-Bert Jacobs

In Arizona, all Phoenix area Baja Fresh restaurants shut down!  Apparently the franchise owner dropped the franchise without telling Baja Fresh corporate people.

In Centerville, Iowa, one of the last Ben Franklin stores in the U.S. shut down.  The store had been in operation since 1954.  Sources related to the store owners said “…sales have dropped tremendously…”

3Rivers Credit Union will be closing its Van Wert, Ohio, branch.  It’s blamed on declining customers.

In Pennsylvania, Merchant’s Village indoor market closed down.  At one point there were 170 vendors working the market, but sales weren’t good enough and most vendors quit.

In Florida, Breakers Restaurant closed after 42 years in business.  Harpoon Harry’s beach club closed down.   Here’s what the owner said about the economy: “I thought we would have the whole season, and I’d have preferred to go through September. But my helpers need to find jobs. They’re on the Titanic, with the iceberg in sight.”-Jack Bishop

On Mercer Island, Washington, Alpenland Delicatessen closed up.  It first opened for business in the 1970s.

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 shut down.