Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:
Arizona: Ohio based employment agency Cavalry Staffing shutting down its Phoenix office, 411 jobs lost by October!
California: The Santee VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) warned of shutdown in September due to lack of donations. In Emeryville, after almost 30 years Bucci’s restaurant shutting down at the end of September. The owners said they are retiring, but local news reports point out that the city recently jacked up the minimum wage and Bucci’s tried to compensate by charging a $2.50 per person service charge. In Oakland, British empire style pub The Growlers’ Arms shutdown, some locals speculated that people didn’t like the British style food. In Arroyo Grande, after 42 years The Girl’s Restaurant shutting down in September, the owners blaming a massive rent increase, from$1.18 a square foot to $3, and that does not include the common area.
Idaho: In order to generate more funding for public schools the state Department of Lands is auctioning-off 38 Priest Lake vacation lots, “…we hope to make a lot of money for the school trust up there.” Last year they auctioned-off 59 Priest Lake lots. Normally people buy cabins but must pay rent for the lot. Another auction for state owned cabins/lots is scheduled for Payette Lake. Last year’s sale of lots generated more than $52-million USD for the permanent endowment, however, it’s been revealed that some of the cabins/lots are up for auction because the previous owners couldn’t make their payments.
Illinois: After 15 years the Lincolnwood Produce & Grocery store shutting down, the property up for sale. It’s the last grocery store in Lincolnwood, news reports say the store owner refused to explain why he had to shutdown.
Kentucky: In Mount Sterling, after 55 years Jerry’s Restaurant shutdown.
Louisiana: In Opelousas, the Blockbuster Video store shutting down within eight weeks.
Maine: In Sanford, ObamaCare forcing non-profit Spectrum Health Systems to shutdown their outpatient addiction treatment center, 1-hundred patients affected! A local news report even insinuated that the ObamaCare shutdowns of addiction treatment centers is to blame for the rise in heroin addicts! In Rumford, after 40 years Maureen’s Preschool shutting down, the local news media didn’t explain why but the owner exclaimed “I still think there isn’t a richer woman in the world than me. Go Donald Trump! You’re nothing compared to me!”
Maryland: Too Big to Jail PNC Bank shutting down its East Patrick Street office in Frederick, in October.
Michigan: The Saginaw Transit Authority Regional Services warned that the fiscal 2015-16 budget will mean 21 employees becoming unemployed in October.
Minnesota: In Albert Lea, Book World shutting down in September: “There weren’t enough people buying books there to support the store, unfortunately.”-Mark Dupont
New York: Bankrupt The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (aka A&P) issued a mass shutdown WARN for all their Empire State grocery stores, 13-thousand and 97 jobs lost in time for Thanksgiving! (for more massive A&P layoffs see my Federal Reserve confirms no recovery!) NYC based insurance company and drugs maker Pfizer announced their plan to takeover rival Hospira has been approved, so get ready for mass layoffs as redundant jobs are eliminated. In Sunnyside, the Bliss Street Station Irish pub shutting down this weekend. Turns out it’s been for sale for several years, finally somebody bought the property.
North Carolina: In Greenville, only four years after a grand re-opening Lowes Foods shutting down in September, 45 jobs lost. Administrators said it’s part of their plan to stay viable, but is it possible the new owners of the Lynncroft Shopping Center wanted more rent money?
Pennsylvania: Justice Resource Institute issued a shutdown WARN for their child prison Cresson Secure Treatment Unit, 57 jobs lost in September. In Altoona, General Cable Industries issued a shutdown WARN, 174 jobs gone by Xmas!
Texas: GE Oil & Gas announced it is shutting down its Lufkin foundry and reducing the number of employees at Buck Creek, 262 jobs lost “As a result of increasingly challenging market conditions…”!
Virginia: In Roanoke, after 116 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Fallon Florist shutting down by the end of the month. Clothing and antique shop Birdy’s Loft shutdown due to lack of sales.
Washington: Redmond based Microsoft announced it will eliminate an additional 2-thousand to 3-thousand jobs in Finland as it shuts down a handset factory!
Wisconsin: In Stevens Point, restaurant @1800 shutdown without warning by the property owner, apparently because the owners of the Sentry Insurance building say they must remodel the entire building.
22 August 2015: “Why are we killing ourselves…?”
WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification
The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”