Incomplete list of United States food supply shutdowns for the month of January, 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.
Walmart announced they will kill 23-hundred Sam’s Club jobs in 2014! About 1150 of those job cuts will be salaried managers!
Alabama: In Birmingham, Tavern on the Summit shutdown. After 56 years the Lyric Hotdogs & Grill shutdown. The property owner refused to renew the lease.
Arkansas: The Argenta Market grocery store announced they would shutdown in February. Company officials blamed competition from Walmart, Sam’s and Kroger. However, as you read you’ll see that’s a bogus excuse as Kroger, Walmart and many other ‘big box’ stores are also shutting down.
Arizona: In Tucson, Nimbus American Bistro & Brewery shutdown. In Marana, Monkey Business restaurant shutdown. After nearly 100 years the Skull Valley General Store shutdown: “…the economy has dropped off too much and the revenue isn’t there. The volume of business is down considerably. It doesn’t look like the economy will be picking up anytime soon…..revenue is down, but the expenses don’t go down!“-Archy McDonald, owner
California: In Fresno, after 37 years the Ripe Tomato restaurant shutdown. In La Mirada, Red Robin restaurant shutdown, 72 jobs lost. In Castaic, a Kroger owned Ralph’s grocery store shutdown. In Reseda, Kroger owned Ralph’s shutdown yet another grocery store, 55 jobs lost. Two long time successful Whiskey Creek restaurants were shutdown in the cities of Mammoth and Bishop, 100 jobs lost! The owner blamed shenanigans by creditors, as well as recent wild fires that killed business. In San Jose, PF Changs China Bistro shutdown, 66 jobs lost. In Daly City, Joe’s Westlake Restaurant shutdown, 105 jobs lost! In Saint Helena, Portfoli Hotels & Resorts Harvest Inn shutdown, 53 jobs lost. Allied Beverages shutdown operations across the Golden State, 422 jobs lost! In Brawley, Leucadia Beef shutdown their factory, 13-hundred jobs lost! Company officials say the higher prices they have to pay for cows is killing their profit margin. In Los Angeles, at the international airport (LAX) McDonald’s laid off 68 employees. In Yuba City, the Save Mart grocery store shutdown. Company officials blamed “The slow economic recovery….”
Colorado: In Boulder, after 20 years the Olive Garden restaurant shutdown. Restaurant officials said their economic survey of the area suggests the local economy is not good enough to continue operations.
Florida: In Ocala, after 35 years Abio’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria shutdown by the landlord. The greedy property owner said he’s been offered more rent by another business. In Tampa, Sweetbay Supermarkets shutdown, 346 jobs lost! In Orlando, Darden Restaurants laid off 20 HQ employees. 85 HQ employees were laid off in September, 2013. Restaurant officials blame the crashing economy.
Georgia: In Dacula, Shane’s Rib Shack shutdown.
Hawaii: In Kauai, after at least 89 years the Hanamaulu Cafe shutdown. Customers of the popular restaurant were shocked, and local news sources say the 3rd generation owners gave no explanation. The successful Ige’s Restaurant & 19th Puka shutdown. The owner retired, and apparently nobody wanted to buy it.
Idaho: In Pocatello, the short lived Marhaba restaurant shutdown. The building was auctioned off at the end of January. In Gooding, Glanbia Foods officials warned of layoffs saying “….we are actively pursuing a number of strategic growth opportunities, the current milk supply situation in Idaho is extremely tight.” Glanbia Foods claims to be the number one manufacturer of American Style Cheese, with four factories in Idaho and the world’s largest cheese factory in New Mexico! In Garden City, after 54 years The Stagecoach Inn shutdown. The owners blame “not enough business” for their failure to pay taxes and the loss of their booze license.
Illinois: In Batavia, a White Castle burger joint shutdown without warning or explanation. In Moline, reports that the Bon Air Tavern closed down. An IHOP restaurant shutdown due to the lease not being renewed. The only two Belgian Inn restaurants shutdown. Local news reports say the owners called it quits. The restaurants were famous for their Rueben style sandwiches. In Geneva, Great Harvest Bread store shutdown. The co-owner blamed inflation for killing his operation: “…..we can’t compete with the supermarkets….they can get ingredients for pennies on the dollar. For me, the price of ingredients has gone up 400%, and my prices can’t keep up with that! Nobody’s going to buy a $40 loaf of bread!”-Marty Kane
Indiana: Marsh Supermarkets shutdown eight grocery stores!
Iowa: In Cherokee, Tyson Foods killed 60 jobs, blaming the bad economy.
Maine: Amato’s restaurants shutdown in Houlton and Presque Isle: “Its the economy, I am experiencing some health issues, and it is tough to be in two locations at once.”-Micah Desmond, co-owner
Massachusetts: In Malden, a Stop&Shop grocery store shutdown. Basically company officials don’t think the suck ass economy can support all their stores. In Webster, Shaw’s shutdown a grocery store. Company officials said they are forced to close “unprofitable stores”.
Michigan: In Kentwood, more food crisis as major packaged food producer ConAgra announced it will shutdown its energy/granola bar factory in July, 260 jobs lost! To add insult to injury, less than four years ago the company got massive local tax breaks! Local news reports say ConAgra gave no reason for the shutdown! Employees told local news reporters that they’ve known for at least three years that something was going to happen. One compliant wimp-ass fatalistic employee stated “That’s just business I guess, there’s nothing you can really do about it.” In Dearborn, after 50+ years Kiernan’s Steak House shutdown.
In Marquette, Farmer Q’s Market shutdown. The owner said despite making profits he can see the writing on the wall for the U.S. economy: “When you start a business from ground zero or scratch and build into what it is after eight years, it’s bittersweet to be closing a profitable business in this economy. However, you have to look at the future and what the future is.”-Tom Brian
Minnesota: In Saint James, Tony Downs Foods shutdown, 75 jobs lost. The Napa Valley Grille in the Mall of America shutdown. In Pine Island, Pine Cheese Mart shutdown after 44 years in business. It’s blamed on local government planners who, in 2013, decided to implement new road construction that actually made it more difficult for customers to get to the shop! In Twin Cities, Rainbow Foods shutdown two more grocery stores. Company officials blame the suck ass economy for its ongoing store closures: “The economic downturn over the last few years, coupled with an increased competitive footprint from the likes of Walmart and others, has made it hard to control costs and remain competitive in the geographies where we have closed stores.”-James Hyland, Roundy, vice president of investor relations and corporate communications
Mississippi: In Corinth, anti-2nd Amendment Pepsi shutdown a warehouse, 31 jobs lost.
Missouri: In Kansas City, Swagger Fine Spirits & Food shutdown. After 28 years Kabuki Japanese Restaurant shutdown. The property owners claim the restaurant owner hadn’t been paying rent! In Maryland Heights, Coca Cola shutdown its bottling factory, 102 jobs lost! Local Fox news TV station said Coca Cola officials refused to say why.
Nebraska: In McCook, Mexican owned Bimbo Bakeries shutdown their Old Home Bakery Outlet.
New Mexico: In police state controlled Albuquerque, after 30 years La Esquina restaurant shutdown. The owner, Roy Venaglia, blamed the bad economy saying “I think Downtown is weak. The phone company is gone. PNM is smaller. The gas company, they’re gone. It’s just a weird atmosphere that is getting a little scary!” Of course, who wants to do business in a city where the U.S. Department of Justice proved that the city cops were routinely and intentionally killing people on a massive scale!
New York: In Great Neck, La Gioconda restaurant shutdown. In NYC, Pulino’s Bar & Pizzeria shutdown, 83 jobs lost. Park Avenue Café shutdown, 135 jobs lost! Bice Ristorante also shutdown, 66 jobs lost. Pastis Restaurant also shutdown, 200 jobs lost! After 55 years The Famous Oyster Bar shutdown. The restaurant owners pasted a big sign on their door saying “This restaurant has been here since 1959 and will be closing at the end of the weekend due to exorbitant rent prices.” After 66 years the Joe Abbracciamento’s Restaurant and Catering shutdown. TGI Friday’s restaurant announced it will shutdown in April, 73 jobs lost. In Utica, popular Toma’s deli shutdown. The owners said the economy is so bad most of their regular customers stopped showing up.
North Carolina: In Swansboro, Nicky’s restaurant shutdown without warning, blaming the bad economy. Fizzys Soda Pop & Candy Shop shutdown after only two years of operations saying “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: Three Tumbleweed Tex Mex Grill & Margarita Bars shutdown, 150 jobs lost! In Cleveland, the Blind Pig restaurant shutdown. Management refused to say why, but the co-owner of another restaurant blamed the suck ass economy: “People just aren’t coming to the Warehouse District in the numbers you used to have. You don’t see 5,000 people on a Friday or a Saturday and New Year’s Eve was a disaster down there because everyone was at Public Square. Places are struggling and it’s a shame to see a longtime place like the Blind Pig close.”-Hank LoConti
Oregon: In Albany, the Albertsons grocery store shutdown. C&K Markets chapter 11 busted! At least 15 of their Ray’s, Shop Mart and LoBucks grocery stores shutdown! In Medford, Togo’s Great Sandwiches shutdown.
Pennsylvania: In Pittsburgh, Momo Japanese restaurant shutdown. Acme Markets shutdown two grocery stores in West Chester and Exton, 120 jobs lost! It’s blamed on the take over by Cerberus owned Albertsons. BC Chicken shutting down operations in Fredericksburg and Denver, 680 jobs lost!
Tennessee: In Nashville, Mexico based Bimbo Bakeries shutdown, 84 jobs lost. In Ooltewah, the Southern Burger Company shutdown. In Frayser, after 59 years Kroger grocery store at 3226 Thomas shutdown, 52 jobs lost. In Green Hill, Nero’s Grill shutdown.
Texas: In Nacogdoches, Sav-A-Lot grocery store shutdown amid rumors the New York based property owner jacked up the rent. In Wichita Falls, Pasqual Restaurant shutdown, the owner said the suck ass economy was the reason.
Virginia: In Galax, Kroger shutdown another grocery store, saying “….the store has been losing money for years.” 53 jobs lost.