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Monday, November 01, 2010

IT WAS THE BATTLE-CRY - "REMEMBER THE ALAMO" THAT SPURRED ON THE FORCES OF SAM HOUSTON - EASTERNSHORE ITS TIME TO GET IT ON!

I posted this article as a reminder to all our breathren. If ANY of the incumbents and/or political candidates were around and holding office when all of the below listed businesses decided to exodus our area - then maybe this is your time to 'stand up to the plate'. Remember - you've got just one shot every four years to make a difference.

Area Business Closings

Wicomico, Worcester, Somerset, & Dorchester Counties

Unemployed

1. Sealy Upholstery Co. Unknown – (Best Estimate 150+)
2. Field Container Corp. Unknown – (Best Estimate 150+)
3. Dresser Industries 500 – 600 -(Facility moved to Austin, Texas - at height of business it employed over 1000 employees.
4. Shawnee Homes Unknown – (Best guestimate 150+)
5. Salisbury Engineering - moved entire operation to State of Delaware
6. Heinemann Electric Unknown, Northwood Industrial Park.
7. Moore Business Forms 148 – Shutdown 07-27-94, Snowhill, Maryland
8. Campbell Soup – Salisbury, MD - 604 Employees in Salisbury
9. Campbell Soup – Swanson Division - Pocomoke, MD 245 Employees
10. Campbell Soup – Mrs. Paul’s Kitchen - Crisfield, MD 200 Employees
11. Montgomery Wards 110 Employees - Salisbury, MD
12. Gant Shirt Factory 250 Employees
13. Jodi Shirt Co. 100 Employees
14. Delmar Sportswear 90 Employees
15. Ford Laboratory 70 Employees - Salisbury, MD
16. Grumman Corp. -Salisbury, MD 401 – Employed 523 at Height of production.
17. Peninsula Press - Salisbury, MD 45 - Employees
18. Preston Trucking Co., - Preston, MD Unknown, filed for bankruptcy protection
19. Chesapeake Bay Plywood Corp. 500 Employees – Pocomoke City, MD. Plant shutdown
20. Ruddy Duck 100 Employees - Cambridge, Maryand
21. Airpax Industries 500 – (Best guestimate) Cambridge, Maryland at height of production it employed almost 1500 workers. Moved lighting division to Matamoras, Mexico.
22. Service Merchandise 75 Employees - Mt. Hermon Road, Salisbury, MD
23. Purity Bacon - unknown, South Division St. - Salisbury, MD.
24. E.S. Adkins & Co. unknown, North Salisbury Blvd. - Salisbury Maryland
25. Masten Home Center unknown, Rt. 13, South Salisbury Blvd. - Salisbury, Maryland
26. IMS (MVP.com) 40-50 Employees – WBOC reporting - (Old Campbell’s Soup Bldg at Lake Street - Salisbury, MD.
27. Powellville Garment Factory Closure announced 02/01 100 – (Best guestimate)-located in Powellville, MD.
28. Food Depot - Old Salisbury Mall, Salisbury, MD Unknown – Old Salisbury Mall building.
29. Crown, Cork & Seal - unknown, Announced plant Fruitland, MD closure 01-14-02
30. Central Tractor Rt.13 - Fruitland, MD Unknown, Announced closure 01-14-02
31. Ames - unknown, Announced Rt. 50 & Tilghman Road Closure 11-14-01 -Salisbury, Maryland 32. Nanticoke Homes, Greewood, DE Unknown, Announced closure 07-02
32. Stoney Point Decoy Factory 35-40 Employees at peak, Crisfield, MD. Daily Times reporting J. Cording – Announced closure 04-19-03.
33. Tyson Foods, Berlin, MD. Facility 600 Employees - Announced closure 04-21-03
34. Black & Decker, Easton, MD 1400 Employees - Announced closure 04-29-03. Moving plant to Brazil & Mexico - (Daily Times reporter John Vandiver 04-29-03)
35. Pine Country Corp., Pocomoke, MD 35 Employees (Daily Times reported 10-26-03) Operations ceased 09/03.
36. Chesapeake Hardwood Mill Operations ceased spring Peggy Neck Road, Princess Anne, MD. 2002, 40 Employees Alan Parker, Plant Manager
37. Salisbury Steel Products Inc. 909 Boundary St., Salisbury MD. Operations ceased 08-03. 35 Employees Per C.J. Townsend
38. US Air Salisbury Airport, filed for Bankruptcy protection; Reorganization in process; Abandoned flights to BWI- constantly in-and-out of financial trouble
39. True Value Hardware Announced closure of Isabella Street location, Salisbury, MD. 03-04. No. Employees Unknown
40. Office Max Salisbury, MD. announced closure February 2004
41. Helovet Pharma Northwood Industrial Park No. Employees Unknown announced closure Salisbury, MD location March 2005
42. Giant Food, N. Salisbury Blvd. 75 Displaced workers, Salisbury, MD. Announced closure 10-22-06 - Rt. 13 North, Salisbury, MD
43. Super Deep Discount Drugs Located across from Giant’s South Salisbury Blvd. location, announced shutdown 10-22-06, No. displaced employees unknown
44. JV Wells, Inc., Sharptown, MD. Employed over 100 - largest Maryland Timber Company.
45. Nanticoke Seafood - it was owned by Booth Fisheries, Rich Sea Pak and most recently by Cape May Canners who moved it to New Jersey
46. Islandic Seafood, Cambridge Md. Dorchester’s largest remaining employer. The Daily Times reported 300 layoffs March 30, 2007, and an additional 122 that are to be laid off by end of 2007.
47. Brunswick – Bayliner/Maxum One of Wicomico’s largest remaining employers announced closure on 07/2/07 - The Daily Times reported 180 layoffs July 4, 2007. Spurred by tax incentives from North Carolina contributed to decision to move plant.
48. Americhem Inc. Marvel Road facility, Northwood Industrial Park, announced closure on 10-23-07. The Daily Times reported 30 layoffs possibly 45 displacements
49. Powerwave Technology Inc. Formerly Filtronic Comtek, Rt. 50 & Walston Switch Rd., announced closure of facility late August, 2008. The Co. announced it currently employs 100 workers and at one point it employed 300 workers.
50. Oddi Atlantic Owned by Iceland Based Co. that bought Atlantic And Hastings Printing Co. in 2006. 70 Workers laid off on 09-26-08 – (Reported by The Daily Times reporter Gwenn Garland).
51. Invista Plant - subsidiary of Kansas based Koch Industries – (former Dupont Nylon plant) – announced the layoff of 400 workers or 80% of its Seaford,DE workforce. Announcement was made 10-16-08 per The Associated Press - Randal Chase.
52. Circuit City Rt. 13 North - Salisbury, MD - announced closure on 01-12-09 30 employees to be displaced.
53. Saturn of Salisbury Rt. 13 North – Delmar, MD - announced closure on 05-01-09 15 displaced workers per Saturn spokesperson.
54. Waterman’s Restaurant Snow Hill Road, Salisbury, MD. closed doors on 04-29-09.
55. Bob Smith Automotive, Easton MD - announced closure 03-09 - GM Dealer
Also owned GMC Dealership in Federalsburg, MD
56. Schaefer & Strohminger, Cambridge, MD - announced closure 04-30-09 - GM, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep Dealer
57. Boaters World, Salisbury, MD - announced closure 04-09 - 15 employees & 75 employees in Denton, MD distribution center.
58. Burke Equipment, Salisbury, MD - closed on or about 01-2010. Number of employees unknown.
62. Jacks Religious Gift Shop - closed on or about 01-2010. Number of displaced employees unknown.

62 comments:

Anonymous said...

Associated Anesthesiology Practice was closed down on 1/2009 due to PRMC wanting to pay less for hired help. 9 office staff, 17 Doctors and 7 CRNA's all had to find new jobs..... It is amazing how much PRMC can get away with.....

Anonymous said...

Several of these were stores that closed in all states. Maryland can't be help accountable for that. But the other 95% they can.

Anonymous said...

Bayliner

Anonymous said...

GOOD GOD - I had no idea that this area had been devastated so bad.

When you actually see the closed industries in writing it is like a magnifying glass.

Joe - this needs to be published nationally like on Fox, CBS, NBC.
This kind of information should be megaphoned throughout the US.

Anonymous said...

To 12:12 Posting:

That MD business one got by me - but I'll make sure to update the list with the information you provided.

Beazer

Anonymous said...

No incumbent wants the public to see this kind of information.

This makes for a compelling statement. I'm truly amazed at the shear numbers here. Salisbury's name should be changed to 'DISASTER'.

Anonymous said...

Joe - this is just unbelievable.

What a shame for our people.

Anonymous said...

I am really burning mad. How can the politicians campaign on false premises?

Don't any of them have a conscience. I truly believe we should replace every last one of the incumbents!

Anonymous said...

Theres alot more than this just cant remember all of them. Now we have a college, a hospital,Perdue and a bunch of chain stores. This used to be a middle class working stiff place, without manufacturing thats dead. The residential construction picked up the slack and now thats dead. The only thing left to die is us.

Anonymous said...

While I agree that Maryland is not business friendly,it is a real stretch to attribute all of those losses to Maryland policies.

Anonymous said...

Increased taxes from state of MD is MARYLAND policy. MD one of highest business taxes in USA

Bryan Fykes said...

Quite a few of these were replaced by other businesses, in the same site. example- Harvard Custom Manufacturing replaced Grumman, the old mall replaced by the new one, Ames replaced by Ollie's, Service Merchandise replaced by Gander Mountain, ETC. This list DOES show how bad it is, and most of these did in fact disappear forever. but a little balanced perspective should be shown. I'm a Fox kind of guy, gotta keep it Fair and Balanced!

(Theres an extra one buried in your listing for Ames, BTW- so your list has 55 entries)

Anonymous said...

What is incredible about all of these closures - is that at the same time State, local, and federal government is still expanding. Case-in-point - look at the new college expansion, JMB school, Wor-Wic getting ready to start a new building, Tri-County Council purchases former Powerwave, County purchases old mall property and more.

This is all totally unsustainable by any stretch of the imagination.
This is a recipe for a meltdown.

Where aren't all of the big medias reporting this?

lmclain said...

One of those -- Campbells Soup --- moved to Mexico and the CEO got a huge HUGE bonus for all the money he saved by reducing the payroll and associated expenses.. He's ANOTHER CEO who gets rich by killing American jobs (with glee). Circuit City and Giant were destroyed by the Wal-Mart in North Salisbury (good jobs replace by part-time workers at $8/hr and no benefits)...Office Max and Tru Value probably feel victim to them , too. Purity Bacon closed a long time before this downturn happened...the point being that the list is not necessarily entirely due to the business climate in Maryland...further, didn't Wal-Mart get some kind of long term property tax break to build in Salisbury??

Anonymous said...

This is absolutely incredible. How are the incumbent politicians going to try and spin this information.

Where is the local chamber of commerse. Where is the national chamber of commerse. Where is the NAACP, AFL-CIO, CIA, FBI. This is an absolute 'black eye' for our State.

Anonymous said...

Surely, none of you can really believe that state taxes clsoed these businesses?

Each situation was unique. Any attempt at a generalization is inane.

Anonymous said...

I noticed a few weeks ago that there were more vacant buildings in the Northwood Industrial Park than Carter has Liver Pills.

It seems as though everything has AVAILABLE written in front of it.

No wonder there are so many robberies & crime being so high. It's the only viable industry left.

Anonymous said...

I think if you consider replacing one minimum wage job (ames) for another minimum wage job (ollies) as keeping it fair, you are sorta missing the point.
And King Ireton spent the last 14 months working on a zoning rental policy instead of focusing on bringing viable employment to the community.
Live long and prosper on your $7 an hour.

Anonymous said...

Call Center Services in SBY: At its height, employed approx 1,000 people (more during holidays.)

Anonymous said...

There is really a big difference in the reporting styles between The Daily Times and SBYnews.

The Daily Times would never gather and report the magnitude of this employer/employee information.

Great job SBYnews - I'm really impressed.

Anonymous said...

Crown cork & seal and carvel hall. We need more manufacturing jobs to bring money into the area.

Anonymous said...

Response to 2:33 Posting

Insane it just may be. But generalization is not a phenomenon that helped the CEO's make the decision to move their facilities out of Maryland. If the incentives were here - they would still be here. Dresser is still making pumps - in Texas - as opposed to Maryland. And
Bayliner/Maxum is still making boats in the Carolinas - not in Maryland. And the scenario goes on.

Anonymous said...

Reference to 12:24 Posting

I agree - where is the regional and national media?

The Baltimore Sun, Washington Post, NY Times, and so on should be all over this. We know that these industries exodus to be true - because they were once situated here. I can remember most all of them.

Anonymous said...

3:24 - The union did more to close Dresser in Salisbury than a CEO. Greed closed those doors.

Anonymous said...

Yes Brunswick/Bayliner,gave employees the change to go to NC plant with the hope of keeping it all together, sadly they also shut down year later.

Anonymous said...

And this really doesn't even begin to touch on all the "small" businesses who also have not survived in Maryland.
Someone posted "where is the Chamber of Commerce"?
The Salisbury Chamber of Commerce is VERY active and you obviously don't know what a Chamber of Commerce does and tries to do for the businesses.
I'm involved with a small COC in my community which is no match for Salisbury's COC. Hats off to Salisbury COC for what they do - because they can "afford" to do it.
Not even a COC can save some companies if you have bad management/bad politics/too many taxes, etc.

Anonymous said...

After reading this article I have a great mind to sue the realtor who sold me my home.

Before I located here I was told that the economy was exuberant and brisk, jobs were ripe for the picking.

All I see now are boarded-up and abandoned facilities. And 2:42 Posting is right - there are Available signs everywhere.

Anonymous said...

The way convenience stores and banks are reportedly being robbed -I would say that crime has served as a general substitute for all of these business closures.
Personally, I feel that the military ought to be brought in.

Anonymous said...

wherever a wal=mart is built, other buisness go down and crime rate goes up.

Anonymous said...

PRMC hired locum tenans to provide anessthesia coverage in place of doctors who were established & living in our community. Most left the area & we now have doctors who come & go & do not contribute to our community. You should be able to choose your anesthesia doctor just as you choose your surgeon. How can you check credentials on a doctor you dont even see till going into the o.r?

Anonymous said...

I can't help but to notice that most of these closures occurred under, both, O'Malley and Ehrlich.

So the blame lies partially on both of these individuals shoulders.

As for myself I'm going to vote for Brian Murphy.

Anonymous said...

Unbelieveable! This is just incredible to actually see this many lost businesses.

Anonymous said...

Daves Sports Shop ,2 times.
Thanks again obamie . what a leader you are are , NOT!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Dresser went to Texas because the greedy local union tried to play hardball with the big boys and lost.

Anonymous said...

How about Call Center & Comtech that closed by Wor Wic.

Anonymous said...

Some of these facilities have been closed for over 10 years now, and many closed due to global and national restructuring issues and related reasons that had nothing whatsoever to do with the policies of the state of Maryland or the city of Salisbury. To point to the policies of the State Maryland as the main reason for most of those industrial facilties closing is absurd.

You also might want to update your list just a bit. I'm surprised you didn't throw in a buggy whip manufacturer.

Anonymous said...

To 12:36 Posting

What planet are you from? Sure - State, local, federal politics had nothing to do with those closures.

You are probably one of those politicos that has been holding a seat while our businesses have moved. Time for you buzz off!!

J.Albero said...

Up Yours McGuire. I've asked you numerous times to stay away from this Blog. You're obsession and man love for me is just scary. Tell your buddy JR, the time is coming and it's going to be VERY soon. Tic Tock

Anonymous said...

Intelligent college kids leave by the truckload once they've realized how the local workforce is "ran". Having a certain last name equals entitlement and privileges while the educated worker gets the shaft. Coupled with the historically lower wage, a high crime rate and you dont end up with too many positive reasons to stay.

Anonymous said...

Someone needs to reopen Waterman's Cove on Snow HIll Rd. The locals their are waiting to return to what we call "OUR SECOND HOME"
We all miss you Lee Hastings.

Anonymous said...

wayne pump or dresser employees put thelm selvs out by listening to the union

Anonymous said...

Maxum and Americhem located to the same county in NC.. strangly enough it coincided with our state and locals not renewing tax incentives sched to expire.
what about businesses that were trying to locate here and made the decision not to because the fees ?

Anonymous said...

Dresser employees were just greedy. I grew up as the child of one. They would clock in, set up the coffee pot, wait for it to brew, drink it, set up the crock pots for lunch, then think about starting to see what they had to get done. I listened to my father brag about it every night.

They went on strike because the union told them to. Where is the union now?

Am I bitter about it..You bet! I am a business man and if my employees worked at that speed I would replace them in a split second.

Anonymous said...

It looks like at least 45 of these closed before O'Malley (Erlich) and more than 50 before Obama (Bush). Just goes to show it doesn't matter what "party" you're in. All politicians are the same.

J.Albero said...

This should reflect on our LOCAL leaders. It's time to do whatever it takes to retain what we have left and encourage new.

Anonymous said...

It's so strange , the population of Salisbury hasn't changed much in the last 40 years. The business that we have lost should reflect a population change. It doesn't , it is a culture change , from good to bad. The crime in salisbury is very bad , again , culture change.
You guys figure it out , the writing is on the wall.

Anonymous said...

Like I said.....Wicomico County is broken.

Chimera said...

Campbells Soup alone employed over a thousand people in 3 local cities....the numbers here are mind boggling and should make us all very angry.

Anonymous said...

Meatland, Johnny's and Sammy's, The Royal Exchange Pub, several locations of English's, Denny's south, Masten's hardware store, Piper's, Godfather's Pizza in Delmar, Railroad Cafe, Johnson's Well Drilling, Clark and Son's Garage Doors has laid off much of its staff, Beanie's coffee shop, Pinchers restaurant, The dollar store that was where Napa on 13 in Delmar is, Curry in a Hurry, etc...

Why doesn't the City create a sales position for someone to meet with industries and companies and try to sell them on Salisbury? If they brought in ONE company that employed a few hundred people a year they would be worth a mint.

Anonymous said...

Yes we have lost much business recently, but the list includes operations closing back in the 80's or early 90's. Much of the listed "loss" is natural. Not many busineses stay around for a long time - even in good economies. It would be much morer useful to look at it in constant year dollars over time and include newly arriving business in the formula too.

Anonymous said...

Can't stand "King" Ireton either, but get real. Salisbury has never had an economic plan. There is a sales arm - the Salisbury Wicomico Economic Development Corp. Far as I can see, they bring in a company here or there, but not much to speak of. You're going to blame US Air's bankruptcy on the local politicians?

And one of the commenters is right, even in good economies businesses come and go. Denny's South? Get real. There's a similar restaurant in there now that replaced it.

Anonymous said...

Manufacturing! That's your solution?
The unions drove manufacturers out of this country.
The wages they demanded made anywhere else more attractive.
Blue collar is dead.

Anonymous said...

I agree with 1:50, this is just inflamatory information considering no effort has been made to give us the other side. And the comment that no incumbent wants this released before an election, tells us what? There were closed as a result of Republican, Democratic, both - one thing is for sure there is always an incumbent. Right now we are looking an another Pharmacy opening right where several exist, and where Giant closed their big pharmacy - if one of them fail, will that be because of some incumbent? And, lets not forget, Americans love all that cheap stuff that comes in from overseas, just google the richest Americans to find that the Walmart Walton family members hold a third of the richest 10Americans, yet they cannot pay decent wages or provide proper health benefits, so is the problem really the incumbents or greed on everyone's part from corporate to buyers. Lets try buying locally - and Joe, why not take on that issue following elections, identify the local businesses, what they sell, and ask we support locally owned businesses that give back!

Anonymous said...

As I look at all of these closures - I see that in some of the factory former locations they are being replaced by government entities - (Salisbury University parking garage, Allenwood Shopping Center, Tri-County Council).

Surely our leaders can see that the 'parasites are now devouring its host' - (our government). It is a no win situation and is going to get worse as our government continues to expand at the demise of industry.

Anonymous said...

Gemini Crickets!

When you actually see the closure list - it is truly compelling. I knew that we had lost a lot of businesses,but, when I actually see this list it makes me sick to my stomach.

How has this happened to our area?
What could have changed the business landscape so dramatically?

Anonymous said...

Seriously!? Some of the places on your list have been closed for 20+ years. You should also include a list that shows every new business that has opened during the same period of time. I am quite sure that there have been more retail store openings than closings ... only manufacturing/processing have truly downsized.

Anonymous said...

To 8:55

I can tell you aren't from around here. As I scan the list I know full well that they used to be here.

I have worked for several of them before they shut the doors.

You must be one of those politicians that was there when some of those businesses decided to pull up roots.

Anonymous said...

Beez- This list is a little dishonest-- for instance, Jack's Religious Gifts closed because they retired. Super G was one of 5 or 6 drugs stores within two blocks of each other.
Yes, a lot of businesses have pulled out because of Maryland's hostility to business, but let's be more honest with the list. Otherwise it hurts your credibility.

Anonymous said...

Maybe its time we all sat down and looked in the mirror We have become a country of hand outs and give me's, Land of "entitlements without sacrifice" Sad when you have people who would rather scam you that do the right thing.....Lie than tell the truth...
Leaders who have no morallity or ethics (but we keep electing them)

So where does the true problem lie? With ourselfs and our double standards of life....our "I can do it ...but you cannot" style ?

Why do we learn history? Because the past always repeats itself....


And we are all going the way of the Romans.....And we all know what happened to them!

Anonymous said...

To 9:24

I want to take you to task to your comment. Give me just one example of a comparable substitute to one of the larger businesses that have left our area.

I do not see any substitutes- of any significance - that could replace any of the lost Maryland employers.

Case closed! Now I'm going to go vote against all incumbents - period. I don't care if it is even my own mother.

Anonymous said...

Joe - Where did you get this list?

Do you know if the governor is aware of all of these businesses leaving? I remember alot of these names.

Anonymous said...

I can tell by reading some of these comments that there are many democratic operatives reading sbynews.