Incomplete list of U.S. retail/banking/service sector job loss WARNings and store shutdowns made or announced in March 2018:
Bermuda based Signet Jewelers shutting down 2-hundred Kay Jewelers, Zales and Jared The Galleria of Jewelry stores in malls across the U.S.
Alaska: Blockbuster shutting down its North Pole video store in April. Thrift store Juneau Treasures shutdown due to skyrocketing crime, the owner blames local police for failing to do anything (even with his security camera video of the crimes) and the state’s new lax criminal laws: “The thieves are becoming more and more bold. They’re coming in groups of three and four and they’re intimidating my staff!”-Mark Dundore
California: In Los Angeles, after 25 years Meltdown Comics shutdown. In Santa Rosa, after 126 years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) furniture store Pedersen’s shutting down in 2019, the owners saying “We are choosing to go out on our terms and our timing, rather than wait for a death, health event or financial stress to force a closing.” Santa Barbara based The Walking Company Holdings chapter 11 bankrupt busted for the second time in ten years, due to not being able to pay its shoe suppliers. After 140 years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) men’s clothier Bachrach now bankrupt and dead. Jonathan Louis Furniture issued a shutdown WARN for its Gardena location, 1-hundred jobs gone by mid-May! Bankrupt Toys R Us issued shutdown WARNs for four locations, more than 4-hundred jobs gone by mid-May! What automotive industry recovery? Melody Toyota issued a shutdown WARN for its San Bruno location, 52 jobs gone by June.
Connecticut: In Enfield, after about four decades Crown Furniture shutdown, blaming competition from both online and brick-n-mortar. In Brookfield, after eight years LJ Edwards Furniture and Design Studio shutdown.
Florida: Xtra Airways eliminating 167 jobs in May, as it is put up for sale! Gibraltar Bank & Trust eliminating 124 jobs due to being taken over by Louisiana based IberiaBank!
Hawaii: After five years Lanikai General Store shutdown.
Idaho: In Boise, Tai Pan Trading shutdown. After two years in Idaho Falls, home decor store Tai Pan Trading shutting down when the inventory is gone, inventory from shutdown stores in Boise and Utah is being transferred to Idaho Falls for clearance. Also in Idaho Falls, after 18 years supporter of the proven to be a failure DARE program (in some cases actually increased drug use nationwide) Dr. Slaughter’s shutting down in April.
Illinois: In Clarendon Hills, after 40 years Ebenezer’s Gift House (formerly The Christmas Closet) shutting down. Hoffman Estates based junk jewelry chain Claire’s now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. Lillstreet Art Center bankrupt busted due to a lawsuit by a website designer. What housing market recovery? Chicago based mortgage company Guaranteed Rate suddenly laid off 180 people across the U.S., due to crashing mortgage approvals! Alpine Shop shutting down its O’Fallon location in April. Bankrupt Toys R Us issued shutdown WARNs for its distribution and regional offices, 180 jobs gone by mid-May!
Indiana: Mitt Romney co-founded wunderkind Staples shutting down its store in Fort Wayne. In Anderson, after 53 years Mounds Mall is now dead.
Iowa: In Iowa City, after 34 years University Camera shutting down, the frustrated co-owner said “Black Friday was a non-event for us. In October, I looked at the books and we did one-third of the business we need to stay afloat. That’s when I turned to my wife and said, ‘It’s time.’… …. walk away from it and we’re done!” Children’s Place shutting down their Mall of the Bluffs store by mid-April.
Louisiana: Kids party/activity store Slinkee’s shutdown after more than ten years.
Maine: Freeport based LL Bean said 2017 holiday sales sucked so much they canceled bonuses and eliminated a net 4-hundred jobs! Too Big to Jail Bank of America suddenly laid off 30 people in Belfast, even though it is advertising to hire.
Maryland: Princeton Sports shutting down its 36 years old Columbia location.
Massachusetts: In Marblehead, after 25 years Chet’s Video and Candy Shoppe shutdown. In New Bedford, after 62 years Fairhaven True Value Hardware shutdown. In Framingham, after 49 years Walter Dyer Is Leather shutting down when the inventory is gone, the owners blame many things including crashing sales.
Michigan: Envoy Air halting ops at Detroit Metro Airport, 114 jobs gone by mid-May!
Minnesota: In Minneapolis, boutique Local Motion shutting down in April. After 54 years Fabric and Textile Warehouse shutting down when the inventory is gone. Bankrupt Toys R Us issued shutdown WARNs for five locations, at least 2-hundred jobs gone by the end of June!
Missouri: Saint Louis based online ‘investment’ Scottrade killing as many as 1-thousand jobs due to selling out to competitor TD Ameritrade for $4-billion USD!
Nebraska: Two former Super 8 Motel managers, who are also immigrants, sentenced to a year in federal prison and deportation after being convicted of enslaving and abusing their own relatives.
Nevada: In Reno, toy store Happy Happy Joy Joy shutdown due to a death in the family.
New Jersey: In Hackensack, after 68 years Kazimir’s Pets shutting down in April. Wayne based chapter 11 bankrupt busted Toys R Us shutting down all stores in United Kingdom, 735 stores in the United States being liquidated, Canadian stores up for sale. Massive Toys R Us layoff WARNs issued; at least 1-thousand-6-hundred New Jersey jobs gone by mid-May!
New York: Value City Furniture shutting down its store in Clay, 25 jobs gone by mid-April. NYC based Foot Locker shutting down 110 stores in 2018, after shutting down 147 in 2017. Bankrupt Toys R Us issued shutdown WARNs for eight locations, about 4-hundred jobs gone!
Ohio: Lakewood record store Wax Bodega shutdown, apparently because of a greedy landlord because the owners said they are looking for a new location. Cincinnati based retailer Macy’s killed more jobs, this time an undisclosed number of human resource employees, apparently in addition to the 5-thousand job cuts announced earlier this year. After more than 50 years Keith Saddle Shop shutting down when the inventory is gone. New Albany based clothier Abercrombie & Fitch shutting down 60 stores across the U.S., due to continued crashing sales. Since 2010 Abercrombie & Fitch shutdown 4-hundred stores. In Canton, after 62 years Capestrain Jewelers shutting down, the building is for sale.
Oregon: In Portland, after 13 years Knit Purl shutting down when the inventory is gone.
South Carolina: Too Big to Jail California based Wells Fargo shutting down its money center in Greenville, 6-hundred jobs gone over the next 12 months! In Florence, after 48 years Norman’s Gun Exchange shutdown because the owners wanted to retire.
Tennessee: In Nashville, Third Man Records suddenly laid off seven people. Bankrupt iconic Gibson Guitar began eliminating dozens of jobs. In Greeneville, after 29 years Paintin’ Place-Benjamin Moore Paint store shutdown after the owners got an offer for the property they couldn’t refuse. After more than 80 years the Springfield Cinema shutdown.
Texas: Michaels owned, Irving based, Aaron Brothers shutting down all 94 stores, nearly 6-thousand jobs gone by the end of July! The brand Aaron Brothers will now be used in Michaels stores in the custom framing section. In Austin, after 38 years The Light Bulb Shop shutdown because the owners didn’t want to strangle “it to death slowly”. Rent-a-Center eliminating 250 jobs at its Plano HQ! Plano based retailer JCPenney suddenly eliminated 360 jobs across the country! In Burkburnett, after 27 years Hayes General Store, Hayes Hardware, and Hayes TV Repair suddenly shutdown due to no more money (apparently employees were given final paychecks).
Utah: In Orem, home decor store Tai Pan Trading shutdown, reports say the Orem location, and the two Idaho locations, are the last of the Tai Pan Trading stores. Loopnet.com lists several former Tai Pan Trading locations as now for sale.
Virginia: In Roanoke insurance company Allstate suddenly laid off employees and refused to say how many.
West Virginia: SunTrust Bank shutting down its remaining five branch offices in the state.
Wisconsin: JCPenney killing 520 warehouse jobs in Wauwatosa, starting in June! In Manitowoc, after 67 years Lloyd’s Photo & Digital shutdown. Bankrupt Toys R Us issued shutdown WARNs for eight locations, 326 jobs gone by mid-May!
WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification
OBAMA LEGACY: U.S. APPAREL INDUSTRY DEATH-SPIRAL
U.S. RETAIL/BANKING/SERVICE SECTOR COLLAPSE, February 2018: “UNPRECEDENTED BRICK AND MORTAR RETAIL DISRUPTION”
SEARS KMART DEATH SPIRAL, March 2018: 50-THOUSAND+ JOBS KILLED IN ONE YEAR!
U.S. INDUSTRIAL/MINING/LOGISTICS LAYOFFS, March 2018: “THIS IS A SAD DAY…”
Dumbing Down the U.S.A., March 2018: “A REFLECTION OF THE CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS”
U.S. HI-TECH/COMMUNICATIONS BREAKDOWN, March 2018: “HARD REALITIES”
U.S. government shenanigans, March 2018:“THEY GOT IT WRONG.”
U.S. food crisis, March 2018: “WE ARE LOSING CUSTOMERS EVERYDAY” MORE THAN 11-THOUSAND JOBS KILLED!
ObamaCare ACA death spiral, March 2018: “HEALTHCARE IS A TAPEWORM”
DRUGS, THE AMERICAN WAY, March 2018: ZOMBIES ARE FOR REAL! “THE FENTANYL…IS ENOUGH TO KILL EVERYONE…SEVERAL TIMES OVER.”