Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of February, 2014: Many food suppliers/distributors are consolidating operations and killing jobs due to the collapsing grocery store and restaurant industries, as well as rising costs of food production.
Outback Steakhouse began shutting down 22 Aussie style restaurants across the U.S.A. The restaurants to be shuttered are in Arizona, Iowa, South Carolina, New York, Tennessee and Kansas. Bloomin’ Brands is also closing restaurants under the names of Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, and Roy’s. Bloomin’ Brands officials say the shutdowns are just for the first quarter of 2014, more could follow.
Italian restaurant chain, Sbarro, announced they are shutting down 155 restaurants in the United States! Company officials blame the suck ass economy.
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 “….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
Alabama: In Montgomery, after 20 years of food and car shows Flip’s restaurant shutdown. The owner blames skyrocketing insurance rates after an arson fire.
Arizona: In Willcox, NatureSweet laid off 70 employees at their tomato greenhouse operation. Last year they laid off 65 employees. Please note that NatureSweet also uses prisoners as employees, and none of them got laid off. The Willcox operation used to be owned by EuroFresh, and back then they employed 400 prisoners. It was also revealed that for years there has been a “disease” inside the greenhouses, but company officials claim they have it under control.
California: In Carlsbad, the Hot Dog On A Stick restaurant chain is now bankrupt, 93 restaurants affected. In San Diego, Karl Strauss Brewing laid off 67 employees. In San Louis Obispo, after 15 years Cugini’s Pizzeria & Trattoria shutdown. The restaurant owner said the greedy property owner jacked up the rent by adding on a monthly service charge as well as demanding 6% of her restaurant’s profits! She tried complaining to the property management company but they blew her off, then suddenly she got evicted! In Fresno, anti-2nd Amendment company, Pepsi, laid off 50 employees. In Sacramento, Coca Cola laid off about 47 employees. Last year they laid off 60 employees. Kansas based National Beef announced they will shutdown their Brawley meat packing plant in April. 1300 jobs lost! Company officials blame the crashing supply of cows for driving up their costs (supply vs demand). California ranchers blame the decline in cow numbers on the long term drought.
Colorado: In Fort Collins, The Black Market Tavern shutdown without warning or explanation. The Wok & Roll Teriyaki restaurant shutdown. The owner realized how bad the economy is when he was faced with the cost of replacing a major charbroiler: “That’s when we began seeing the handwriting on the wall…..It’s just costing so much to maintain that it’s not worthwhile anymore.”-Stephen Moritz
Connecticut: In Mashantucket, Craftsteak Foxwoods restaurant shutdown, 54 jobs lost.
Idaho: Warren Buffet owned Heinz Frozen Food made it official and notified Idaho that it will shutter its Pocatello plant, killing at least 400 jobs! State Department of Labor analysts said the frozen food factory shutdown will have a domino effect and kill an additional 200 jobs in Pocatello/Chubbuck! In Aberdeen, food and agriculture giant Simplot announced they will kill 309 food processing jobs by April!
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. In Chicago maker of Nathan’s Famous hotdogs, Specialty Food Groups, killed 250 jobs! No reason given. In Bolingbrook, supplier of food to the U.S. Department of Defense (meaning they’re a taxsucker), Quantum Foods, now chapter 11 busted. Company officials were hoping to sell out to Idaho based CTI Foods, but Quantum’s 1100 employees were warned to prepare for sudden unemployment!
Indiana: In Indianapolis, after 40 years the MCL Restaurant & Bakery shutdown. In Mishawaka, the Save A Lot grocery store shutdown. Company officials blame the bad economy: “After having invested significant marketing and promotional support for the store, as well as fielding a great management and staff team, we’ve come to the realization we cannot anticipate a time when we will generate adequate sales to justify continuing operations.”
Iowa: In Des Moines, after 30 years Billy Joe’s Lounge shutdown.
Kentucky: In Louisville, the Heine Brothers’ Coffee shop shutdown. Company officials said the shop had good business, but it wasn’t good enough to cover the outrageous rent.
Louisiana: In New Orleans, after ten years the Meauxbar Bistro shutdown. The owners sold off the property.
Maryland: Beer distributor Winner Distributing laid off 125 people! Baltimore County officials say they were not told why, other than it sounds like the operation was sold to an unknown buyer!
Massachusetts: In Brookline, Jimmy’s Bar & Oven announced they will shutdown in March. In Ashland, after 25 years The Malt Shop liquor store shutdown. After almost 30 years the South Face Farm restaurant announced that 2014 is its last year of business. It’s one of several restaurants operated by maple sugaring farms to be closed. It’s no longer economically viable to run a restaurant and make maple syrup.
Michigan: After more than 40 years the Swartz Creek Bakery shutdown. The property owner sold off the building. 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.
Minnesota: After only five months Captain Jack’s Liquor in Janesville shutdown.
Missouri: In Dutchtown, after 40 years Giuseppe’s Ristorante shutdown. The owners say their crashing restaurant revenues were caused by the temporary closure of Highway 40.
Montana: In Missoula, the Food for Thought college town restaurant shutdown. The owner said she’s been trying to sell for the past four years, because she can’t afford necessary upgrades. Students and employees say they were surprised by the shutdown.
Nebraska: In Omaha, after 60 years Eli Caniglia’s Venice Inn restaurant shutdown. The family owners sold out to an evil property developer.
New York: In Newburgh, Dr. Pepper Snapple announced they will shutdown by April, 35 jobs lost. In Amsterdam, Quandt’s Foodservice Distributors announced they will shutdown by May, 116 jobs lost! In Watertown, after 12 years the Brew Ha Ha coffee house shutdown.
New Jersey: In Westfield, after only two months upscale Grädde Swedish Restaurant shutdown! The owners said screw this and are moving back to Sweden! Wawa convenience store, on Route 70 and Cooper Landing Road, shutdown. Store owners say it’s not worth it to remodel in order to meet new building standards.
North Carolina: In Charlotte, food producer 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.” In Greensboro, after 79 years Ham’s Restaurant shutdown.
Ohio: German importer, Krause’s at Findlay Market, shutdown. No reason given. In Dayton, Champps Americana Grill shutdown without warning, 65 jobs lost: “Despite the best efforts of the team there, this had been a store that had been under-performing for some time.”-Rick Van Warner, F&H Acquisition
Oregon: In Portland, the Wildwood shutdown. The restaurant owner says the property owner wanted to jack up the rent.
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”. In Pittsburg, the Bridge Ten Brasserie restaurant shutdown. The owner blamed the bad economy saying “Regrettably, ‘success commerciale’ has proven elusive.” In Lower Saucon Township, the Starters Pub shutdown. Local news reports say it was without warning or explanation.
South Carolina: In Saint Beaufort, a Piggly Wiggly grocery store shutdown, more than 50 jobs lost. In Orangeburg, a Reid’s grocery store shutdown. In Cayce, a Reid’s grocery store shutdown. In Walterboro, a Reid’s grocery store shutdown. In Aiken, a Bi-Lo grocery store shutdown. All blamed on Bi-Lo Holdings take over of Delhaize America. More grocery store shutdowns to come!
Texas: Gigi’s Asian Bistro & Dumpling Bar shutdown, the owner blamed “economic challenges and unforeseen circumstances”. In Dallas, Tom Thumb grocery store shutting down sometime this year. Company officials have given conflicting reasons, one being that they are moving into a bigger location, the other is that California based parent company, Safeway, is going to sell off their Tom Thumb division. 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
Virginia: In Reston, a Burger King shutdown. Capital Bagel Bakery store shutdown. The operators blame the property owners: “We were given one month notice to vacate the space due to the landlord’s consideration of Fresh Mart, since they’re carrying bagels as well.”
West Virginia: Kroger announced it will shutdown two more grocery stores, one in Quincy and one in Weston. At least 100 jobs affected!
Washington: Upscale Madison Park Conservatory restaurant shutdown.
U.S. Food Crisis, January 2014