Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

California: What housing market recovery? In Fresno, roofing materials maker, GAF Materials Corporation, laid off six people.  In Chatsworth, Too Big to Jail JP Morgan Chase laying off 300 employees!  It’s part of the bank’s plan to layoff 15-thousand people across the country!  The evil bank officials admitted that the home mortgage disaster has reached a point where it’s not worth it for banks to continue stealing people’s homes, so they’ll take it out on their employees.  In San Diego, video game company Trion World closing.  They’re consolidating ops to their HQ in Redwood City.  The company has laid off dozens and dozens of employees since last December. Company officials said the layoffs were necessary to make lenders/investors happy!

Connecticut: The bad economy hitting even lawyers that make money from lawsuits.  A major law firm, Day Pitney, laying off as many as 40 employees.

Florida: Law firm, Boyd & Jenerette, closing their Miami office.  The office was in operations for only two years, and had lost 14 attorneys during that time.

Georgia: In Cornelia, 31 years old Gusben’s restaurant closed. The co-owner Jeff Hames said “I’d like to have more time off, spend more time with family.”

Illinois:  Navistar International laying off 140 contract employees! The semi-truck maker has already laid off hundreds of people.  Company officials gave a conflicting explanation, saying they were not “doing more with less” but then admitted they are pushing to increase “employee effectiveness”.  In Hinsdale, Italian restaurant Firenze closed.  The owners are switching to carry out only.

Michigan: The entertainment riverboat operation, Chesaning Showboat, now bankrupt.  According to the Chapter 7 filing, the company’s debt far exceeds its worth.

Minnesota: In Minneapolis, the 105 years old Falls Hardware shut down.  The owner said he was trying to sell the store so he could retire, but nobody wanted to buy it.

Missouri: Electronic transmitter maker, Process Controls International, now bankrupt.  Chapter 11 documents show the company owes as much as $10 million USD, yet has maybe $1 million in assets.  Last year the company was sued by another electronics company that alleges Process Controls stole one of their designs.

New Hampshire: In Nashua, the Main Street Bakery closed after less than one year of ops.  The owners blamed the bad economy.

New York: In Mahopac, non-profit NYSARC shut down its Putnam County Chapter Preschool Program, 47 employees laid off.  NYSARC is considered the largest non-profit helping disabled people.  The official WARN blamed “economic” reasons.  In NYC, WBAI radio announced massive layoffs.  All their news staff and most talk show hosts were let go, 75% of employees! WBAI is the birthplace of Pacifica Radio’s Democracy NOW!  WBAI is struggling to pay the rent for its transmitter atop the Empire State building.  Skin cancer treatment company, MELA Sciences, laying off 25% of employees after losing $7.4 million in its 2nd quarter of 2013.  In its 2nd quarter 2012 they lost $5.5 million.  In Soho, Cafe Cafe closed.  The restaurant had a 20 year lease, but the greedy property owner ended it four years early (read the small print on those lease contracts).  In Albany, Phillips Hardware closed. The family owners are shifting their money making to real estate acquisition.

North Carolina: Bus maker, DesignLine USA, laid off about 250 employees!  The troubled company ceased ops because they could not find any U.S. bank to give them loans for daily operations.  The company originated in the British empire country of New Zealand.

Ohio: Bankrupt aluminum smelter, Ormet, laying off 200+ employees at their Hannibal factory! The company cannot pay their utility bills, and has been asking for financial help.  Another 700 employees could lose their jobs!

Pennsylvania: In Elizabeth Township, the 38 years old Fallen Timber Animal Shelter shut down. Operators said they were financially forced to consolidate ops.

Virginia: In Middletown, the Wayside Theatre (note British empire spelling) closed after more than 50 years of playacting.  Despite raising tens of thousand of dollars in donations the board of directors said financial problems were overpowering.  What is suspicious is that the last fund raising efforts raised enough money for a year of ops, but the board of directors shut the live action theater down just a few months later.  A major sponsor of the theater, Royal Oak Computers, says they cannot get an explanation from the theater’s board of directors.  Perhaps the Board of Directors were the best actors in the theater company?  In Virginia Beach, California based boat and fishing store West Marine is consolidating retail ops. 34 employees affected. Company officials said it’s part of their plans to shut down smaller stores across the U.S.

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.