Incomplete list of announced closings & layoffs.
Barnes & Noble revealed their Nook book reader is losing steam, sales dropped 60% compared to the previous year! Now Barnes & Noble is killing an undisclosed number of Nook jobs, in order to come inline with “business realities”. (you know, the bad economy)
Florida: In Leesburg, local news media discovered that the only Swan Creek Candle store in The Sunshine State shutdown back in January. The owner, Ann Albright, blamed Obama Care (Affordable Health Care Act) for jacking up insurance rates, and local sales couldn’t cover the jacked up health insurance costs for employees.
Illinois: In Chicago maker of Nathan’s Famous hotdogs, Specialty Food Groups, killed 250 jobs! No reason given. OfficeMax warned of an undisclosed amount of layoffs, as it plans to restructure after the merger with Office Depot. Cardinal Health laying off 75 employees. Harmony Health Plan killing 105 jobs! Blame Obama Care. In Bloomingdale, JCPenney announced they will shutdown in May, 127 jobs lost! What housing market recovery? In Bensenville, maker of windows and doors Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope shutting down, 64 jobs lost.
Indiana: What automotive industry recovery? In a surprise announcement, Monaco RV shutdown their towable recreational vehicle factory in Elkhart. 160 jobs lost! It’s blamed on the 2013 takeover by Allied Specialty Vehicles (ASV). Officials with ASV say towable campers are no longer money makers.
Kentucky: In Cannonsburg, Sears shutdown the Auto Center, and announced they will shutdown the department store in May.
Louisiana: In New Orleans, after ten years the Meauxbar Bistro shutdown. The owners sold off the property. Loyola University killed more than 24 jobs. It’s blamed on crashing student enrollment.
Michigan: In Detroit, Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe shutdown. The owners blame a 60% drop in sales on competition with mainstream grocery stores. They were hoping that selling alcohol would increase sales, but they found the actual costs of licensing, stocking of wine and liquor, as well as hiring more employees ate up any alcohol profits. In Walker, after ten years Schuler Books & Music shutdown. The co-owner said the lease was up and the past ten years of sales didn’t justify continuing: “In terms of business strategy, it’s better to let the store go, get the money out of it and redeploy it in other ways.”-Bill Fehsenfeld
Missouri: In Saint Peters, SunEdison killed 100 jobs! The company is consolidating its semiconductor crystal operations.
New York: In Bayside, Saint Mary’s Hospital For Children shutting down in May. 34 healthcare jobs lost.
North Carolina: In Charlotte, after 50 years the city’s oldest bridal shop, Bride’s House of Originals, shutdown. The owner said increasing competition is a sign that she needs to retire.
Nevada: In North Las Vegas, city officials laid off five managers. The new mayor said the city must run more efficiently, meaning the city is near broke.
Ohio: In Mansfield, Gary’s Discount Outlet shutdown. The owner wanted to retire. The Columbus City School District warned it will have to close seven schools, in order to cut $50-million USD from next school year’s budget!
Pennsylvania: In Philadelphia, Mondelez International shutting down the former Nabisco/Kraft bakery. 350 jobs lost by early 2015! Union leaders say there was no reason for the shutdown, other than “corporate greed”.
South Carolina: In Murrels Inlet, Kmart announced they will shutdown in April, 50 jobs lost. In Saint Beaufort, a Piggly Wiggly grocery store shutdown, more than 50 jobs lost. In Columbia, a Books-A-Million store shutdown. A local professor blames society: “We’re not seeing that books are unfashionable.…People are reading more than ever. The publishing industry is changing at a phenomenal rate because of societal changes.”-Marianne Bickle, University of South Carolina.
Texas: In Waco, the Super Plaza grocery store shutdown. A local businessman says the store suffered from bad management: “You’d walk to the bakery, and they’d be sold out of bread. Or there would be a line of 20 customers and only one cashier on duty….”-Raul Vallejo
West Virginia: Kroger announced it will shutdown two more grocery stores, one in Quincy and one in Weston. At least 100 jobs affected!
Wisconsin: In Racine maker of household cleaners, SC Johnson, killed 300 jobs and some reports say it could go as high as 400! This is far higher than the 200 job cuts announced back in October!
06-07 February 2014: Warmongers admit they regret reduced tax spending on wars!
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