Washington’s restaurant scene — particularly in and around Seattle — has long been a source of pride and personality. But 2025 is proving to be a punishing year. Over the past months, several beloved establishments have shuttered — some after decades in operation — leaving diners and industry observers alike wondering what’s driving these sudden losses. Rising real estate costs, restaurant industry labor shortages [...]

Florida’s restaurant scene has long been a mix of tourist magnets, coastal gems, and beloved local eateries. But 2025 is shaping up to be a brutal year: closures are happening fast and without warning. From national chains to neighborhood spots in Orlando and beyond, the shuttered doors are a stark reminder of how rising costs, shifting demand, and stretched household budgets are hitting the food industry hard. Below are [...]

Rhode Island’s food scene has long been a point of pride — small coastal spots, family‐run diners, and neighborhood gems pepper every town (versus tons of chains). But in 2025, a surprising number of announcements have revealed restaurants are struggling to stay afloat. Rising costs, labor shortages, unpredictable foot traffic, and inflation are squeezing margins. For many Rhode Islanders, these closures are more than just a [...]

Kentucky has had a rough 2025 for all kinds of reasons - but let’s face it, the biggest one is the bourbon downturn. Distilleries have been closing down across Kentucky all year as the bourbon market enters a huge contraction. And while there are certainly longer-term issues at play (we’ll get into those in a moment), a huge factor has been foreign boycotts of American alcohol as the trade war sparks global [...]

Wisconsin really needed some good news. After losing several factories in the past year… And with more job losses incoming… What Wisconsin distinctly did not need is news of more mass layoffs. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what’s happening as Pregis Innovative Packaging has announced plans to close its plastic packaging factory in Germantown, Wisconsin - at the cost of 48 good manufacturing jobs. Plastic [...]

Texas has been struggling all year. As factory layoffs rapidly multiply… And employers across Texas shed jobs… It’s been tough sledding across the Lone Star State. And unfortunately, things are going from bad to worse. More specifically, Smurfit Westrock recently shut down its containerboard mill in Forney, Texas - at the cost of at least 175 jobs. (Estimates are about 200, but we like to be conservative where [...]