Incomplete list of U.S. retail/banking/service sector job loss announcements and shutdowns made or announced in May 2017:
Don’t blame the internet: “A lot of the smaller retailers are struggling and the whole retail industry is configuring itself differently these days. It’s not just happening to smaller businesses, it’s happening to larger ones, too. New factors are coming in. How do I pay for my product, it’s not just money anymore and it’s not just a credit card. The consumers have a whole bunch of different choices that go beyond the product and I think small businesses are in a position where they’ve got to react to that.”-Thomas Abbott, Business Administration/International Business at Post University, Connecticut
Alabama: In Athens, after 56 years Collins Supply shutdown due to the heirs not being interested in running the family business. In Tuscaloosa, after 65 years Barton’s Nursery & Gifts shutdown, the family landscaping business will continue. In Jasper after 54 years Bull Building Supply shutdown, the owners blaming health problems and no family heirs to take over the business.
California: Cost Plus World Market shutting down its San Diego store on 4th Avenue by the end of June, local news reports say no reason was given. In Sacramento, after more than 80 years Taber Furniture shutdown because “The priorities have changed…..it’s not what it used to be……the customer base is diminished.” In Anaheim, Anabella Hotel shutting down 121 jobs lost, supposedly being replaced with yet another hotel! In Glendale, after four years live music nightclub Complex shutdown with only a few days notice and no explanation. San Francisco based Too Big to Jail Wells Fargo shutting down an additional 450 offices by 2019. Banc of California issued layoff WARNs, 40 people losing their jobs by July. ‘Residential asset manager’ Kondaur Capital Corporation eliminating 55 jobs in mid-July. In Burbank, Warner Music issued a layoff WARN, 19 jobs gone by the end of July. JCPenney issued shutdown WARNs for stores in Richmond and Orange, 177 jobs lost by the end of July! Bankrupt Los Angeles based clothier B & B Bachrach asked the court for permission to shutdown 12 stores.
Colorado: Donation funded Ellicott Wildlife Rehabilitation Center ran out of money and will shutdown in June. Local news reports say it’s one of several animal rehab centers to shutdown.
Connecticut: In Woodbury, after more than 30 years Gepetto’s Toys shutting down when the inventory is gone. JCPenney notified the state it is shutting down its store in Milford, 89 jobs gone by the end of July. Walmart shutting down its operations in Bristol, 114 jobs gone by mid-July!
Florida: In Jacksonville, after 35 years Soccer Stop forced to shutdown when corporate giant Nike suddenly halted all shipments to the family owned store! Nike refuses to explain why. LA Fitness suddenly shutdown its Hide Park Village location, unconfirmed rumors (dating back a couple of years) say it’s being replaced with a grocery store. What auto industry recovery? Car dealer Nice Cars chapter 11 bankrupt busted due to sales crashing by $9-million USD from 2014 to 2016! Once British empire based-but-now co-owned by China, Too Big to Jail HSBC notified the state it would eliminate jobs in Brandon.
Idaho: In Boise, after 45 years of six to ten hour days, six days per week, the surviving co-owner of Bow Wow Auto Parts shutting it down so she can retire.
Illinois: The Fayette County Bank failed, the FDIC turned assets over to United Fidelity Bank. In Chicago, after 40 years Tipre Hardware forced to shutdown by the property owner/developers who want to build a massive apartment complex. International law firm Seyfarth Shaw laid off 40 people. After eight years Cat & Mouse Game Store in Bucktown shutting down so the owners can focus on their store in West Loop. Star Center Mall chapter 11 bankrupt busted and it’s blamed on “the City of Marion regarding disputed bonds.” After six years Wee-Peats Kids Resale (no it doesn’t mean they re-sell children) clothing store shutdown. Don’t blame the internet (they had a Facebook page), the owner says she’s moving to Alaska. In Jacksonville, Kirlin’s Hallmark shutting down its Lincoln Square Shopping Center gift store by mid-June, “primarily due to declining sales.” In Decatur, Lincoln Square Theatre suddenly shutdown. The operators told local news media that they are trying to come up with ideas to help re-open the 1-hundred years old theater. Bloomington based insurance company State Farm shutting down 11 offices across the U.S. as part of its plan to consolidate operations. In Rock Island, the last Barkan’s shutdown after 71 years. Local news media said at one time the family owned clothier was so popular they had four stores. JCPenney issued shutdown WARNs for its Centerpointe Mall and Peru Mall stores, 174 jobs lost by the end of July!
Indiana: In Plymouth, after 64 years the owners of Tri-Way Drive-In begging for donations to keep the outdoor movie theater from shutting down, blaming it on the cost of upgrading to digital projectors. In Richmond, after 78 years Veech’s toy store shutting down: “Many factors have led to the decision to close the store, including a significant drop in sales over the past year-and-a-half, which has been experienced by many stores across the nation. A number of independent toy stores have closed in this past year due to these retail trends. We, too, have not been able to weather this precipitous change in sales volume.”
Iowa: In Cedar Rapids, after 19 years Planet X Fun Center suddenly shutdown, it was announced on the company’s website without explaining why. Premier Linen & Drycleaning issued a shutdown WARN for its Dubuque location, 86 jobs lost by mid-June.
Kentucky: 78 years old music venue Renfro Valley Entertainment Center laid off 12 people “Effective immediately” due to the suck-ass local economy.
Louisiana: First NBC Bank failed, FDIC turned assets over to Whitney bank. After 13 years bridal shop Bustles and Bows shutting down mid-July. In New Orleans, after 53 years the Maple Street Book Shop shutdown for the second time saying “We’re not sure what we’ll do next, but we’ll always keep fighting the stupids. We hope that you will too.”
Massachusetts: In Northhampton, after 12 years clothier Ci Ci Boutique shutting down by the end of June. Bankrupt Eastern Mountain Sports shutdown its Hyannis store.
Michigan: 37 years old boat shop Landman Sales sold to pay for the owners’ retirement.
Minnesota: Retail giant Target laid off 40 HQ employees, local news reports say employees were given only a week to find another job within the company. The sudden layoffs were blamed on a 4th quarter in a row of crashing sales (and Target sells online). Uniform rental company G&K Services issued a shutdown WARN for its corporate HQ, 232 jobs lost as a result of being taken over by a competitor!
Montana: Junk jewelry seller Claire’s shutting down its 25 years old store in the Butte Plaza Mall, by the end of June.
Nebraska: In Kimball, after 52 years LorRon’s Department Store shutdown, the owner saying she needs a “retirement/career change”.
New Jersey: ‘Popular’ Mountain Creek Resort now chapter 11 bankrupt busted under new ownership, however, the new owners blame the previous owners for the bankruptcy. In Newark, Total Airport Services issued a WARN, 74 jobs lost by July. Bankrupt California based clothier B & B Bachrach shutting down its Lawrence Township store by August.
New York: Elitist clothier Michael Kors reported a net loss of $27-million USD and will now shutdown as many as 125 stores, thousands of jobs lost! Clothier Banana Republic shutting down its store in the Walden Galleria, by the end of June. Women’s clothier New York & Company suddenly shutdown its popular Forrest Hills store, customers speculated that the rent was too high. In NYC, Landmark Sunshine Cinema being forced to shutdown by 2018 because the property has been sold to some greedy property developers. The Cinema owners said they tried to buy the property, with the intent to serve booze to movie goers, but the benevolent city of New York refused them a booze license. ‘Automated online marketplace’ Merchant Cash and Capital issued a shutdown WARN for its NYC ops, at least 74 jobs lost by August. In NYC, nightclub operator Webster Hall Entertainment has been sold, 267 jobs affected! Aircraft Service International lost its contract with JFK Airport, 378 jobs affected by the end of July! In White Plains, Executive Jet Management issued a shutdown WARN, 54 jobs gone by mid-August. What real estate recovery? Nationstar Mortgage issued a shutdown WARN for its Elma location, 179 jobs gone by the end of August! Public Service Insurance issued a shutdown WARN for its NYC location, dozens of jobs affected by mid-August. Walmart shutting down its store in Niskayuna, 102 jobs gone by between July and August! Non-profit Rides Unlimited of New York/Nassau/Suffolk shutting down due to sale of assets to a bus company, 213 jobs affected!
Ohio: After 90 years Yellow Cab of Cleveland shutting down within 60 days, officially due lack of qualified taxi drivers. Huntington Bancshares laying off 129 people in connection to its 2016 take-over of a competitor! Columbus based clothier Express shutting down all 17 stores in Canada.
Oregon: Florida based Holiday Retirement (aka Holiday AL Management, HolidayTouch.com) notified the state that it will shutdown its corporate office in Lake Oswego, no reason given, about 1-hundred jobs gone by the end of the year!
Pennsylvania: After 1-hundred years of elitist snobbery, ‘social club’ Pittsburgh Athletic Association is now chapter 11 bankrupt busted due to lack of money, due to lack of rich members! Moon Township based Dick’s Sporting Goods eliminating 1-hundred more jobs despite a small increase in sales! In Byrn Mawr, after 33 years profit making Pun’s A Wonderland of Toys shutdown ’cause the owner wanted to retire while he was still ahead. In Frackville, the 40 years old Schuylkill Mall notified its remaining tenants that within 90 days the mall was shutting down. Reading China and Glass shutting down its store in the VF Outlet Center due to the greedy property owner’s plan to re-develop the shopping center. Too Big to Jail Bank of America issued a layoff WARN for its Allegheny Center Mall office, 112 jobs lost by July! JCPenney issued a shutdown WARN for its King of Prussia Plaza store, 118 jobs lost by the end of July!
South Carolina: A 30 years old bookstore ironically called Rainy Day Pals forced to shutdown due to flood damage that occurred in 2015. Owner Calvin Lyles described his failed efforts to repair the store by saying that financially “You can’t stop the bleeding.” Brigadoon Discount Golf in Surfside Beach shutting down.
Texas: In College Station, after 32 years Lippman Music shutting down in July, the owner saying the landlord’s plan to jack up the rent is a sign to retire.
Virginia: Bath & Body Works shutting down its store in the Bristol Mall, by June. In Carytown, after ten years clothier Eurotrash shutdown due to the owners moving to Texas. After 72 years McDonald Garden Center shutting down so the owners can focus on their new concept satellite ‘garden market’ stores “…because lifestyles are changing and business is changing rapidly.”
Washington: After 70 years Furney’s Nursery suddenly shutdown because the “…property has become very, very valuable over the years, so they got an offer they couldn’t refuse.”
Wisconsin: Guaranty Bank-Best Bank in Georgia & Michigan failed, 170 offices shutting down, the FDIC turned assets over to First Citizens Bank & Trust. Online-mail order company Colony Brands issued a shutdown WARN for its distribution center, 113 jobs gone by 2018 due to the greedy landlord!
U.S. Retail/Banking/Service sector April 2017: “…GREED, ARROGANCE AND JUST PURE DECEITFULNESS.”
SEARS KMART DEATH SPIRAL, MAY 2017: “THE OTHER STORES ARE FULL UP. THERE’S NOWHERE FOR THEM TO GO.”
U.S. MINING/INDUSTRIAL/LOGISTICS LAYOFFS, MAY 2017: “SIGNIFICANT DOWNTURN IN BUSINESS”
U.S. HI-TECH/COMMUNICATIONS BREAKDOWN, MAY 2017: “TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT”
U.S. FOOD CRISIS, MAY 2017: “..SALES DROPPED OVER 30%..” “IT’S GOING TO BE A BIG DOWNFALL…”
OBAMACARE ACA DEATH SPIRAL, MAY 2017: “UNSUSTAINABLE FOR OUR COMPANY”
DUMBING DOWN THE U.S. OF A., MAY 2017: “THIS IS VERY TROUBLING, THE WORST I’VE EVER SEEN IT!”
U.S. government shenanigans, May 2017: OPERATION DARK STORE SHIFTS TAX BURDEN TO CASH STRAPPED INDIVIDUALS!