Incomplete list of announced closings & layoffs.
It was revealed by inside sources that Radio Shack will shutdown at least 500 U.S. stores by the end of 2014!
Furr’s Fresh Buffet restaurant chain now chapter 11 busted. 2-thousand jobs affected! There are Furr’s restaurants in New Mexico, Arizona, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Company officials blamed lack of operating loans and even climate change: “….challenges facing our industry and the liquidity constraints due to our indebtedness and the recent ice storm, we need to explore options to restructure our debt, recapitalize and position ourselves for future growth.”-Barry M. Barron Sr, CEO
Andrew Carnegie founded United States Steel (USS) killed 175 jobs in Canada! Company officials said it was part of the plan to cut the costs of their operations around the world.
It’s been reported that U.S. Too Big to Jail banks shutdown more than 1400 offices in 2013! The fat cats blame slow revenue growth and the cost of complying with government regulations (complying with regulations, yeah right!). More shutdowns are planned for 2014.
Alabama: In Courtland, International Paper continues its shut down of their factory, 500 jobs being killed! When the shutdown is complete 1100 jobs in total will be lost!
California: In San Mateo, it’s being reported by inside sources that two years old digital media company Avos is shutting down its HQ and laying off 80% of employees.
Colorado: In Denver, a longtime Kazoo Toys store shutdown. The owner blamed it on greedy landlords and lack of parking for customers. The Kazoo Toys store at the International Airport is still open.
Florida: In Lauderdale by the Sea, after more than 30 years Jo-an’s Papers & More shutdown. The owner blamed paperless communications, although she admitted her sales didn’t start crashing until the ‘great recession’ began in 2008, so maybe it’s really the overall bad economy. In fact, Barbara Winston Hansen said her sales dropped 50% in 2008, and never recovered.
Hawaii: In Kailua, after 17 years the Alpha Video store shutdown. The owner blamed increasing rent and decreasing sales.
Illinois: In Monmoth, Olivia’s Cookie Jar and Kitchen announced it will shutdown this year. Owner, Rae Connolly, told local news media it was because of the suck ass economy. Kankakee County warned of layoffs. It’s blamed on controversial tax sharing deals with city officials. But even officials in the Chicago area are accusing the county of stealing their tax revenues.
Indiana: Hoosier Park Racing & Casino laid off 13 employees, due to a steady decline in revenues.
Iowa: In Bettendorf, another victim of the secret plan to shutdown all Hallmark gift stores: After 54 years Kile’s Hallmark shutdown, nine jobs lost.
Michigan: The troubled and possibly thieving Saginaw School District warned of school shutdowns in order to save money. The District is already being sued by one of its own board members, is already in the hole by $6.1-million USD, and last year it was forced by state officials to take over and shutdown the Buena Vista School District. And even though Buena Vista School District is dead, the local residents are still forking over local school taxes to pay off $6-million in District debt! I’ve written this before: Michigan is a failed state.
New York: Too Big to Jail M&T Bank shutting down ten offices. Key Bank warned of more closures. Key Bank already shutdown 81 offices in 2013. Its reported that publisher Time will kill 500 jobs this year (which is about how many jobs they killed last year)! Utica City School District killing 94 jobs. The District is in the hole by $6.4-million! And this is despite the fact that the District is one of the rare few that actually has increasing student enrollment! In Bronx, Visiting Nurse Service (VNS) CHOICE Community Care laid off 37 employees. In NYC, Visiting Nurse Service of New York Home Care laid off six employees.
North Carolina: In Charlotte, Kellogg shutting down its Famous Amos, Austin Sandwich Creme and Iced Animals factory, 195 jobs lost! Kellogg has been shutting down factories in Australia, Canada and United States, but shifting production to southeast Asian countries under a operation called Project K. After 48 years Arnold’s Family Restaurant shutdown, the co-owner said “It just feels like it’s time.”
Texas: Copperas Cove Independent School District killing 75 jobs. The district no longer qualifies for the federal Heavy Impact Aid, which equates to a $12-million loss. The aid is for schools located near federal installations like military bases. However, 35% of the student population must meet certain qualifications, and apparently declining enrollment has resulted in not enough students to meet that 35% requirement.
Washington: In Oak Harbor, the Kmart will be shutdown by April, 68 jobs lost.
Washington DC: Howard University laying off 200 employees over the next few months! The jobs are being outsourced. University employees protested, but of course they were ignored.
Wisconsin: A Kmart in Menomonie and a Kmart in Chippewa Falls to shutdown, at least 100 jobs lost! Product design and development firm Red Fusion Studios shutting down. 35 jobs lost, and many employees did not want their names made public because they believe it will prevent them from getting a new job! It’s blamed on the loss of their biggest client, who without warning pulled funding: “Koss is pulling its funding and as they pay on the first of the month, RFS will not have the funds to make payroll on the 3rd….I am truly sorry. This has been a complete surprise to me……..”-Michael Pelland, Red Fusion CEO
01-03 February 2014: Massive Dollar store shutdown blamed on ObamaCare!
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