U.S. job losses & store closings 04 – 05 March 2014: No more cranberry juice? Massive missing students shut down more schools! ObamaCare bankruptcies? Radio Shack ups the store closure ante! God kills The Jewish Mother!

Incomplete list of announced closings & layoffs.

California:  The operator of 19 nursing homes, Country Villa Health Services, is now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.   Reduced reimbursements due to Obama Care is an issue, but company officials admitted the main reason for the bankruptcy is because they’re getting hit with massive lawsuits.  1711 patients and 2113 employees affected!

Colorado: The U.S. Air Force Academy laid off 99 employees.  Biochemistry, environmental engineering and meteorology are among ten academic majors being eliminated, due to disappearing students (declining student enrollment).

Illinois: What automotive industry recovery?  Fiat-Chrysler is laying off 325 people in Belvidere! It’s blamed on a 37% drop in sales of the new Dodge Dart.  The factory employees about 1200 people.

Indiana: In Terre Haute, Japan based Sony DADC shutdown its distribution center, 34 jobs lost.  Distribution operations are being consolidated.

Maine: University of Maine at Farmington eliminated 18 jobs.  It’s blamed on lack of funding due to disappearing students.

Massachusetts:  The city of Fall River warned 60 firefighters of impending layoffs.  City officials revealed those positions have been paid for with federal funding, and that funding is being turned off in June.

Minnesota: In Minneapolis, after only four years LifePower yoga gym shutdown.  It’s being consolidated into other Life Time Fitness operations, to save money in this bad economy.  In Shoreview, after 40 years Kozlak’s Royal Oak Restaurant shutdown.  The property was sold to make room for a nursing home co-op.

Missouri: In Springfield one of three Kmarts to shutdown in June, 60 jobs lost.

Montana: In Anaconda, after more than 53 years Lutey’s Furniture & Appliance store shutdown.  Also, there is a Radio Shack operation inside the very large store and it shutdown as well.  The operators of the Radio Shack said their shutdown is not connected to the newly announced 1100 Radio Shack store shutdowns (see Texas below).

Nebraska: What housing market recovery?  In Scottsbluff, Nationstar Mortgage quietly killed 105 jobs!  The layoffs were made public by employees, and it was also revealed that back in November the mortgage company killed all their part time jobs!  Several whistleblower former employees said the mortgage industry shutdown was planned at least one year ago!  In Council Bluff, it’s looking like Griffin Pipe Products is being shut down.  250 jobs lost!   It’s blamed on the takeover by U.S. Pipe and Foundry.

New Jersey:  In Bordentown, maker of cranberry based juices Ocean Spray killing 138 jobs!  They’re shutting down their factory and moving to Pennsylvania.

New York: In Rochester, Kodak has been busy slowly letting employees go.  In the past few weeks about ten people lost their jobs.  In Brentwood, Royal Pet Supplies shutting down their factory in June,  123 jobs lost!   The company is consolidating operations to save money, due to the bad economy.

North Carolina: In Winston-Salem, after 16 years Ollie’s Bakery shutdown.  The landlord is the suspect.

Ohio: In Over the  Rhine, after only two years Reser Bicycle Outfitters shutdown one of their shops.  The company said due to the bad economy they had to consolidate operations.  Parma City School District warned of layoffs as they and the teachers union battle it out in arbitration.  If U.S. teachers are so important why is the United States now among the dumbest countries in the world?

Oregon: In Portland, Ivories Jazz Lounge and Restaurant shutdown.  No reason given, but reviews of the restaurant were hit & miss.  Many customers were shocked by the unadvertised cover charge for the bands.  In Springfield, local farmer’s-crafts  type store Eugenius Marketplace shutdown after only 18 months in business!  It sounds like they couldn’t afford the rent, despite tripling their sales in the past few months.

Pennsylvania:  In Olyphant, Cinram Manufacturing laid off about 50 employees.  The company has laid off hundreds of people over the years, and locals say it won’t be long until there’s no employees left.  The Correy Area School District shut down two elementary schools.  Superintendent William Nichols blames it on the mysterious disappearing students, saying “The board built two buildings here in the past six or seven years that house all of the elementary students and that becomes possible because we have a declining enrollment of 35%…”    In Wilkes-Barre, legal drugs pusher Rite Aid shutting down a 25 years old pharmacy in April.  In Honesdale, after 75 years Morning Glory Gifts shutdown. It’s the economy: “For many years we’ve had our ups and downs, but in the past five years we’ve had more downs than we’ve had ups.”-Kelly Birmelin, owner

Texas: Fort Worth based Radio Shack was closing 500 stores, now they’re shutting down 1100 stores!   Company officials reported a $400-million USD loss for all of 2013!

Virginia: In Virginia Beach, after 40 years God refused to stop the shutdown of The Jewish Mother Hilltop restaurant and dance club/music venue.  The Jewish Mother Hilltop has been plagued by lawsuits, financial problems and recent health problems for the owner.   The owner also admitted that January and February saw crashing revenues, and he was unable to pay rent.

Washington:  More proof that the internet is not the reason for brick & mortar shutdowns.  Internet based children’s products retailer Chasing Fireflies laid off 92 employees.  In 2012, Chasing Fireflies was taken over by the same company that runs Home Shopping Network.  HSN also announced they are moving Chasing Fireflies’ HQ to an undisclosed location.

Wisconsin: Who said tech jobs are recession proof?  In Eau Claire, Hutchinson Technologies killing 78 jobs.  It’s blamed on six straight years of revenue losses!

01 – 03 March 2014: Too Big to Jail banks excused from paying $1-billion in debt! 

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