Incomplete list of announced closings & layoffs.
A Canadian company operating bike sharing programs in several U.S. cities is now bankrupt busted. Bixi is in debt by at least $43-million CAD, and is in financial trouble with some of the U.S. cities it operates in. Bixi is connected to non-profit Public Bike System Company (PBSC). Minnesota claims Bixi violated its PBSC contract, and New York and Illinois have suspended payments to PBSC. It’s interesting that the PBSC website declares Bixi its “greatest success.”
Sprint announced it is killing an undisclosed number of jobs in the first half of 2014.
California: Applied Materials laid off four employees. Too Big to Jail Bank of America killed at least 247 jobs across the Golden State! In Sebastopol, Palm Drive Hospital eliminating 40 jobs. Hospital officials blame Obama Care (Affordable Healthcare Act) for forcing hospitals to “right size”. In Fresno, GAF shutdown, 31 jobs lost. In Long Beach, Nordstroms Rack shutdown, 43 jobs lost.
Colorado: Colorado State University-Pueblo laying off 22 employees. 19 vacant positions have been eliminated.
Connecticut: In Windham, after 35 years God decided to shutdown the G&L Christmas Barn and Gift Shop. The co-owner said there is no sign that the U.S. economy has recovered: “The current conditions do not support continued operation.”-Lorrie Reid
Florida: In Ocala, after 43 years Tom Falvey’s Men’s Wear shutdown. The owner blamed the bad economy: “I wish it didn’t have to come to this, but we just have to close…..I wasn’t able to bring in new merchandise and keep everything fresh. You know, just the same old story.”
Georgia: In Dacula, Shane’s Rib Shack shutdown. In Macon, the last men’s tailored suit store in the city shutdown. After 31 years the owners of Bowens Brothers want to retire: “The first thing I’m looking forward to is taking off two weeks. I’ve never been off two weeks in my adult life.”-Harry Bowen
Hawaii: The successful Ige’s Restaurant & 19th Puka shutdown. The owner retired, and apparently nobody wanted to buy it.
Illinois: In Hillside, HomeDirect killed 82 jobs. In Galeberg, after 35 years the Carl Sandburg College Children’s School shutting down in June: “…the college simply no longer offers the accompanying programs and no longer has the resources available to continue to support it financially given the reduced funding we’ve received from the state in recent years.”
Massachusetts: In Webster, Shaw’s shutdown a grocery store. Company officials said they are forced to close “unprofitable stores”.
Michigan: In Anne Arbor, France based Teleperformance USA shutdown a call center, 430 jobs lost!
Nebraska: In McCook, Mexican owned Bimbo Bakeries shutdown their Old Home Bakery Outlet.
New Mexico: In Santa Fe, Physicians Plaza Surgery Center shutdown, 30 healthcare jobs lost. What automotive industry recovery? Also in Santa Fe, Centaur Cycles and Scooters shutdown. Co-owner Meg Meltz there is no sign the economy has recovered since 2008: “We’ve never made any money since the recession! We’ve been working for free for six years, and decided this is dumb!”
New York: Time Warner Cable laid off seven IT workers.
North Carolina: Fizzys Soda Pop & Candy Shop shutdown after only two years of operations: “Since a buy-out and subsequent closure of our primary distribution center early last year, it has been difficult to obtain most of the more popular premium glass-bottled sodas we have become known for……Our costs for products have risen considerably since February. We have managed to hold the line on our pricing, but don’t feel we could continue to do so if going forward.”
Ohio: Clothing store Dots now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, closing 36 stores!
Pennsylvania: Russian owned PBS Coal laid off another 40 employees. In 2011 the company had 1-thousand employees, today there are less than 450. Fred Meyer/Kroger owned Littman Jewelers shutdown after 21 years, and with no explanation. The shopping mall manager, where the jewelry store was located, said she was shocked by the announcement.
South Carolina: After 22 years the South Carolina Repertory Company on Hilton Head Island will shutdown in May. The operators blamed the skyrocketing inflation: “SCRC has been fiscally responsible. Our production costs are kept at a minimum, and our overhead is minimal. Despite that, SCRC’s costs are still rising quicker than incoming funds can keep up.”
Washington: In Richland, after 13 years Aunt Franny’s Toys shutdown. The co-owner said her husband was offered a job elsewhere, which paid better than operating a toy store. In Kent, Berry Plastics shutdown, 118 jobs lost!
Wisconsin: Ruan Transport Corporation shutdown its Wisconsin Rapids terminal, 37 jobs lost. Company officials decided it was not worth it to upgrade the terminal.
17 January 2014: 64-thousand unpaid mortgages kills 650+ jobs!
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.
“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