Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of May, 2016: 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, spread of disease and extreme weather.
Alabama: In Huntsville, after 31 years Clementine’s Restaurant and Catering shutting down due to the owner becoming an “executive chef”.
Alaska: Washington based Great Pacific Seafoods shutdown all its Alaska operations then declared bankruptcy, blaming it on Russia and Too Big to Jail U.S. banks: “We believe we have no other choice given the financial performance we experienced last year… …Without a line of credit, we did not have access to sufficient working capital to begin the season.”-company statement referring to the sanctions Russia placed against U.S. food producers, Russia recently extended those sanctions, U.S. currency war with Japan is also blamed
Arkansas: In Little Rock, after 31 years Silvek’s European Bakery shutting down by the end of the month, apparently to take care of family issues (the owners said they hope their son can restart the bakery).
California: In San Miguel, after 29 years Country Diner shutdown by a greedy landlord who refused to negotiate a new lease. Despite Kroger’s claim that they plan to hire 14-thousand people this year, Kroger issued a shutdown WARN for their Indian Wells Ralphs grocery store, and local news reports revealed that the Rialto Ralphs and the Arcadia Ralphs are being shutdown. A spokesman for Ralphs claims that all employees have been transfered to other stores. Maggiano’s Little Italy shutting down their Sacramento restaurant, 103 jobs gone by July! In Vernon, without warning Handmade Real Foods laid off 316 people! Amazingly, for such a large and sudden layoff, there’s been no news media reports about it. Also in Vernon, food packaging maker Pactiv issued a shutdown WARN, 107 jobs gone by July! In Menlo Park, after 134 years (surviving The Great [deflationary] Depression and numerous recessions) pioneering Beltramo’s Wines & Spirits shutting down to be sold-off. Don’t blame the economy or the internet (they sell on ebay), the only heir to the family business says she is not ready to take over. In Fresno, a Starbucks Coffee on Herndon and Golden State Avenues suddenly shutdown and demolished to make room for the High Speed Rail project. In Santa Monica, restaurant Aestus shutdown. In Torrance, after 44 years Cookin’ Stuff shutting down, the ignorant owner blames a 75% drop in sales (since 11 September 2001) on the internet! In Stockton, after three years restaurant French 25 shutting down by June due to the greedy landlord: “We tried to negotiate a new lease. It didn’t happen.”-Bruce Davis, restaurant owner
In Modesto, after 15 years Fat Cat Music House & Lounge has been sold and will shutdown by the end of June. The new owner is a local ‘businessman’ who admits he doesn’t have any plans for the property. In Oroville, Gold Digger Apples now chapter 7 bankrupt busted. US Bank says the apple growing co-op owes them $18.5-million USD. Chapter 7 bankruptcy means the co-op’s assets will be sold to pay the debt, and quite possibly it means the death of Gold Digger Apples: “This is a devastating blow to the community, seasonably Gold Digger employs up to 800 employees. I hope there’s some real PR damage to the bank it’s hideous, it’s everything you’ve heard about big banks…”-Peg Callaway, attorney for the local apple growers
After nine years Texas based convenience store operator CST California Stations (aka CST Brands) is now dead, 537 jobs across a dozen Golden State locations gone by July (administrators blame low gas prices)! Jamba Juice issued a shutdown WARN for their Emeryville HQ, 103 jobs gone by Xmas as the juice franchise moves its HQ to Texas! More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise; internet seller of ‘healthy’ foods Thrive Market issued a shutdown WARN for their operations in the city of Commerce, 98 jobs gone by mid-July.
Colorado: The following restaurants reported as shutdown; Bubu Lowry, Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs, Big Country’s Bar-B-Que, Protein Bar Colorado Boulevard, Viand and Willie G’s Seafood & Steak. In Colorado Springs, after three years Curbside Cuisine shutting down multiple lots owned by god’s Young Men’s Christian Association and being rented to independent food trucks. YMCA administrators said Curbside Cuisine wasn’t making enough money off renting out the YMCA property so they’re being handed back to the YMCA. One food truck operator said he got three weeks notice of shutdown: “I don’t know where to move. We have been here all winter and didn’t make any money and now the weather is starting to get better and we have to move. It is not fair.”-Hayder Hassan, former U.S. Army translator now food truck operator
Connecticut: British empire based food service company Chartwells issued a WARN for their Newtown Compass Group operations, 40 jobs gone by the end of June.
Florida: In Brandenton, after 27 years Smitty’s Pub & Grill shutdown, the owner saying “I’m taking a whole year off and then we’ll see.” In Jacksonville, two Krispy Kreme donut shops shutdown, 50 jobs lost. A local Pizza Hut franchise says it will consider hiring the former donut makers. Here’s more restaurant shutdowns across The Sunshine State: Bazi, Tap Global Beer Collection, Hudson, Oaki Steakhouse, Sheila’s Conch & Wings, Rhino Doughnuts & Coffee and Hickory Sticks BBQ.
Idaho: In Pocatello, the Wing It chicken wing joint on Yellowstone Avenue recently shutdown and the Subway sandwich shop on Garrett Way is now dead and vacated. A federal court has ordered Gem State taxpayers to fork over nearly $250-thousand USD to settle a case involving the state’s unconstitutional ‘ag-gag’ law. The unconstitutional law was created by ‘elected’ state lawmakers to protect dairy farms and slaughter houses from being outed for their cruel treatment of animals. The state livestock Brand Inspector, Justin Archer, resigned after being charged by Jerome County Sheriff’s Office with felony grand theft! The state Department of Agriculture says all but two types of crops will lose money this year. The two money makers are sugar and barley. Snake River Sugar Company-Amalgamated Sugar expects as much as $900-million USD in revenues for 2015. But that increased revenue doesn’t translate into job creation, Mark Duffin of the Idaho Sugarbeet Growers Association says actual sugar production employment has been going down due to increased use of new technologies. And despite years of boasting how great their farm economy was, even boasting of the Ag industry’s relationship with Mexico, the Department of Agriculture admitted that in 2015 Idaho’s farm exports crashed by 22%! Idaho dairy exports crashed and burned by 43%! It’s blamed on the ‘strong’ USD, which makes U.S. products more expensive overseas: “It was a nice ride, but it’s over.”-Laura Johnson, Idaho Department of Agriculture
The federal government is considering halting sheep grazing on public land in west-central Idaho. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management says domestic sheep spread disease. Wow, after a hundred plus years of sheep grazing they now claim sheep spread disease to other animals? I believe that applies to all us animals, all animals spread disease to each other. How do you think disease is spread, with a butter knife? The local sheep industry calls bullshit on the BLM reasoning: “There’s no firm science that says 100% that domestic sheep pass disease on the open range, or that they’re the only species that can pass the disease.”-Stan Boyd, Idaho Wool Growers Association
Illinois: In Chicago, The Berghoff Restaurant issued a shutdown WARN, 156 jobs gone by the end of June due to sale of the massive restaurant! The Kmart Super Center in Bradley shutdown, 125 jobs lost! Sears Holdings sold the building to Meijer, unconfirmed reports say the Kmart Super Center (which has a full grocery op) was actually making money. In Chicago, elitist diner Baffo shutdown, the owners admitted their “very expensive” eatery “is not capturing the Chicago diner as intended.” Oak Brook based TreeHouse Foods took over ConAgra-Ralcorp and announced it will shutdown ConAgra factories in California and in Wisconsin, at least 720 jobs gone supposedly for lack of demand for snack foods!
Indiana: Food chemical company Vertellus Specialties now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and selling assets to pay the debts. Administrators blame “macroeconomic challenges facing our Agriculture and Nutrition business”.
Kentucky: Mega grocery store owner Kroger refuses to renew the lease for the Bristol Bar and Grille, which has been located at the Kroger owned Prospect Village Shopping Center for the past ten years. Kroger administrators admitted to local news media that they found a new tenant who is willing to pay much higher rent. In Louisville, Homemade Ice Cream & Pie Kitchen shutting down their Frankfort Avenue restaurant, apparently they’ve been asked to relocate to Dixie Highway.
Maryland: After 73 years Mars Super Markets sold-off five grocery stores to rival Weis Markets and will shutdown its remaining eight grocery stores, more than 4-hundred jobs lost: “As you all know, the company has been struggling with declining sales for several years. We have tried cutting costs everywhere we can while preserving jobs and benefits, but it has not been enough.”-Chris D’Anna, ceo
Massachusetts: Hannaford Supermarkets shutting down their Hudson grocery store because they can’t afford to renew the lease. 94 jobs gone by mid-August.
Michigan: After 17 years The Great Lakes Shipping Co. Restaurant and Tavern forced to shutdown by the greedy landlord, CWD Real Estate Investment, who has other plans for the property. McLaren Flint outsourcing its food service jobs, at least 83 in-house employees unemployed by July.
Minnesota: In Rochester two Papa John’s pizza take outs suddenly shutdown. The owner could not afford the latest tech upgrades and pay the new higher minimum wages, so he tried to sell the businesses but nobody wanted to buy.
Missouri: In Saint Louis, it was revealed that restaurants Mama Josephine’s (by a buy-out offer from a business partner) and Revel Kitchen (the owners are focusing efforts on another restaurant) shutdown. Schnuck Markets ramps up its job killing, 234 people losing their jobs at Schnuck’s brand new grocery distribution center in Kinloch! The jobs are being contracted out to cheaper labor (probably migrants/refugees) with a Connecticut based contractor. In Saint Louis, after less than a year Lilly’s Music & Social House shutting down, the owner saying “Unfortunately, the doors are closing much earlier on this dream than we had hoped. The bar and restaurant industry is undisputedly challenging…. ….Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, things just don’t work out.”
Nebraska: In Omaha, Hy-Vee shutting down its 33 years old Stockyards Plaza grocery store by June, 174 jobs supposedly being transfered to other stores! Of note, the lease on the property will remain in effect until 2018 (meaning Hy-Vee will still pay the rent on an empty store, until a new tenant can be found).
New Jersey: In Princeton, after more than 20 years the Masala Grill shutting down next week because the greedy landlord jacked up the rent. In Closter, after 13 years the owners of Harvest Bistro and Bar suddenly announced they were shutting down, no explanation.
New York: In Rochester, Moe’s Southwest Grill shutdown. After ten years Northeast Kingdom restaurant shutting down by the end of the month, the owners are focusing on their upstate farm. In Buffalo, popular restaurant Martin Cooks shutdown, the operators say they’re looking for a new location. British empire Chartwells Dining Services lost its contract with Polytechnic Institute of NYU, 39 jobs lost. Here’s a list of additional restaurant shutdowns in the Big Apple; Thirteen Pies, Afredo’s, Asante, H. Harper Station and The Pecan. Liehs and Steigerwald shutdown their 13 years old butcher shop in Clay. Last year Liehs and Steigerwald built new operations combining meat market, specialty grocer, deli and pub.
North Carolina: Greensboro based gourmet grocery chain The Fresh Market shutting down 13 stores in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Texas! In fact all Texas Fresh Markets will shutdown. A news source estimated that 60 people work at each store, that’s 780 jobs lost within the next two months! In Cramerton, South Fork Deli shutdown without warning, due to family health problems. Also in Cramerton, Captain Jim’s Seafood and Steaks shutdown due to the owner’s death. In Morganton, after 55 years Mimosa Lanes shutting down this weekend. The owner blames it on changing demographics and the fact that he hasn’t been able to sever beer for several years: “…it’s putting me out of business. ….we’ve lost a significant amount of business because of it.”-Grier Franklin
Ohio: In Lima, after 39 years restaurant Lickity Split shutting down due to the owner’s health problems, and the owner says nobody wants to take over the business. In Pleasant Ridge, the Highland Remke Markets grocery store shutting down, 54 jobs gone in June. Administrators say shutting it down is the only way they can pay to remodel other better performing Remke Markets. Across the U.S. 197 Cargill employees to become unemployed 18 months from now! It has something to do with the sale of Cargill’s sauces unit to California based Ventura Foods. In Cincinnati, after two years happy belly On Vine shutting down their Over-the-Rhine ‘healthy foods’ location by the end of the month. It sounds like the owner is too busy with another restaurant and a “growing family”. In Cleveland, the Hard Rock Cafe shutting down in July, the movie celebrity created restaurant chain is consolidating restaurants due to the bad economy.
Oregon: In Bear Creek, sandwich shop Quizno’s suddenly shutting down this weekend. The owner blames repair bills, employee issues, family issues and the increase in minimum wage.
Pennsylvania: In Johnstown, after three years R.J.’s Café and Lounge shutdown, apparently without warning. Local news media say the owners called it “a business decision”. Presbyterian/Agnostic Warren Buffett owned Kraft-Heinz moving its Lehigh Valley Grey Poupon production to Michigan, because it’s being paid half-a-million dollars by Michigan taxpayers and $17-million USD by private investors. Also, Kraft-Heinz is moving its Lehigh Valley Tassimo coffee production to Canada, claiming that the majority of Tassimo customers live in Canada. The moves will cost Pennsylvania more than 450 jobs! France based Sodexo lost its food contract with Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, 108 jobs gone by the end of June! Despite reporting an increased demand for Ketchup, Presbyterian/Agnostic Warren Buffett eliminating 40 Kraft-Heinz jobs in Pittsburgh, they’re being contracted out by June. In Carlisle, after 56 years Rillo’s Restaurant shutdown. The owner wants to retire and sold it to an investment group, adding “We do not know their plans or who they are negotiating with for this property.” In Richland Township, customers and employees woke to find the Ryan’s restaurant shutdown. Parent company Ovation Brands apparently exited bankruptcy, but the property owner is still pissed that they didn’t pay the rent while in bankruptcy so he kicked them out: “I was there last night, I closed, and they didn’t say a word to us.”-Trista Miller, a pregnant Ryan’s employee who worked a 13 hours shift
After surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions Yocco’s shutdown their iconic Allentown hot dog shop: “Unfortunately, in the end we had to make a business decision and obviously it’s an emotional decision because I grew up working there and it’s our longest-operating store. I’ve lamented about this decision for many years and done many things to keep it going out of tradition.”-Gary Iacocca, owner
Tennessee: In Chattanooga, after two years Harvest Grocery suddenly announced it was shutting down. An arrogant loyal customer blamed “the community” for not “supporting” the ‘natural foods’ store. Personally, my lack of income is enough to prevent me from “supporting” such expensive ‘natural foods’ ops. The economy sucks because the ‘99%’ don’t have any cash because the ‘1%’ are sucking it up, stop blaming each other 99-percenters! Also in Chattanooga, after more than two years Brash Coffee shutting down by the end of the month. The owners blame their employees “for moving on with their careers……..Brash Chattanooga cannot continue without these amazing people…” Utah based ‘christian’ owned Capstone Nutrition shutting down their Spring Hill factory-warehouse, 125 jobs gone by mid-June! It’s blamed on legal problems with client MusclePharm, which supposedly hasn’t paid for $22-million USD worth of Capstone products!
Texas: Plano based Pizza Hut (owned by Yum!) revealed its been using chemicals and antibiotics to keep its food ‘fresh’. Pizza Hut administrators claim they will stop using butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) or butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) by the end of July, and stop using chicken processed with antibiotics by March 2017. More and more studies are coming out saying the use of such ‘preservatives’ are actually creating ‘superbugs’ like the new E.coli that cannot be killed with anything. In Cypress, reports say eT Craft Burgers and Beer suddenly shutdown, even their social media site is gone. Marshall Grain shutting down their 70 years old Fort Worth store by the end of June, due to crashing sales and skyrocketing crime in the neighborhood (due to more and more people losing their jobs, the city’s own crime stat website shows that since February, 27 crimes took place in that specific neighborhood)! In San Antonio, after almost 30 years Fatso’s Sports Garden shuts down this weekend. The retiring owner admitted their decades of success was not planned, saying “We didn’t set out to do anything. It just happened.”
Vermont: In Lyndonville, after 12 years The Packing House bar shutting down, the owners would only say that they’re “ready to move”.
Virginia: In Blacksburg, after seven years Sal’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria shutting down mid-June.
Washington: North Dakota based CRF Frozen Foods shutdown their Pasco factory due to listeria. So far 3-hundred employees are out of work until the factory is declared safe! Local news media say as many as 430 jobs could be affected. In Bellingham, Cozy Corner Books & Coffee shutdown due to not being able to renew the lease. In Blaine, after more than ten years Dakota Creek Winery shutting down so the owner can enjoy a “true retirement”.
Washington DC: After 12 years Domku Bar & Cafe shutting down next month, the owner blames the greedy landlord for jacking up the rent by 66%!
Wisconsin: Tyson Foods shutting down their Jefferson pepperoni factory in July, 250 jobs lost! In Steven’s Point, after 42 years Ella’s bar shutdown. In Brookfield, Hom Wood Fired Grill suddenly shutdown. The owners say because of “changing times” they will focus on their other restaurants.
WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification
April 2016: “…in some cases no food at all.”