Cigar Weekly

Wankel · 12-21-2015, 01:54 PM

JR Layoffs

Went by the Selma store yesterday.
Parking lot had maybe ten cars in it.
Store interior was a mostly empty wreck.
Humidor was intact, just me and another customer inside and staff seemed pretty detached.
Well-stocked cigarette counters set up just outside the humidor doors. Ditto the detached staff
The rest of the place had a few stacks of t-shirts in odd colors/sizes and stuff like tin signs and bargain books that I guess nobody wants.

KatDad · 12-21-2015, 02:00 PM

Thanks for the news. Walt. Sorry to learn of this though. Sounds like all that's left of Lew's company is a greatly diminished operation.

BigO · 12-21-2015, 02:28 PM

Only an MBA or a lawyer thinks lts a good idea to fire people close to Christmas. Bunch of people who need coal in their stockings this year.

Wankel · 12-21-2015, 04:33 PM

I know that things change over time but whew...

gumby · 12-21-2015, 05:45 PM

The way they have ruined the industry leader is so few years is astonishing. They could write college business studies on how to ruin a company.

Wankel · 12-22-2015, 06:40 AM

Who owns JRs now?
When did Lew sell the company?

nhale1300 · 12-22-2015, 07:51 AM

I hate to hear this kind of stuff. It's bad bad all the way around. There is always someone who thinks they can do it better, but I really hate when they fire people at Christmas. That's a big low!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

jeepdad · 12-28-2015, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wankel

Went by the Selma store yesterday.
Parking lot had maybe ten cars in it.
Store interior was a mostly empty wreck.
Humidor was intact, just me and another customer inside and staff seemed pretty detached.
Well-stocked cigarette counters set up just outside the humidor doors. Ditto the detached staff
The rest of the place had a few stacks of t-shirts in odd colors/sizes and stuff like tin signs and bargain books that I guess nobody wants.

I took my Mom back home to Hickory NC the day after Thanksgiving and stopped at the Burlington Store on the way and the exact same thing you described was going on there too.

Cabaiguan · 12-31-2015, 04:22 AM

Our NJ stores in Whippanny and Paramus are doing very well. New lounges with wifi and great selections. Maybe they're concentrating on certain regions of the country and focusing approach?

gumby · 12-31-2015, 03:11 PM

Wait. Wait just a minute. a CABAIGUAN siting?!!!

12-21-2015, 01:54 PM	#1
Wankel Herf God Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Wankelwerke AKG, Friedrichshaf Posts: 15,009	JR Layoffs JR Layoffs Went by the Selma store yesterday. Parking lot had maybe ten cars in it. Store interior was a mostly empty wreck. Humidor was intact, just me and another customer inside and staff seemed pretty detached. Well-stocked cigarette counters set up just outside the humidor doors. Ditto the detached staff The rest of the place had a few stacks of t-shirts in odd colors/sizes and stuff like tin signs and bargain books that I guess nobody wants. __________________ "Hey, I found a live one!" - Red Skelton as Freddy the Freeloader, picking up a discarded, but still smoldering cigar butt.

12-21-2015, 02:00 PM	#2
KatDad Herf God Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Overland Park, Kansas Posts: 30,280	Thanks for the news. Walt. Sorry to learn of this though. Sounds like all that's left of Lew's company is a greatly diminished operation. __________________ The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it George Bernard Shaw The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule it H. L. Mencken The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants Albert Camus The Land of the Free Because of the Brave

12-21-2015, 02:28 PM	#3
BigO Publisher/Owner El Chefé BBQ Guru Herf God Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Atlanta. Posts: 55,784	Only an MBA or a lawyer thinks lts a good idea to fire people close to Christmas. Bunch of people who need coal in their stockings this year. __________________ Every time you think you've become too cynical, the world finds a way to teach you that the real problem is that you haven't become cynical enough Free speech is free speech is free speech. There is no qualifier. If you aren't outraged, you aren't paying attention. Never attribute malice to that what can be explained as stupidity. Unborn lives matter too.

12-21-2015, 04:33 PM	#4
Wankel Herf God Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Wankelwerke AKG, Friedrichshaf Posts: 15,009	I know that things change over time but whew... __________________ "Hey, I found a live one!" - Red Skelton as Freddy the Freeloader, picking up a discarded, but still smoldering cigar butt.

12-21-2015, 05:45 PM	#5
gumby Contributing Editor MOM November 2012 Emeritus Honorary MOM November 2021 Herf God Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 47,304	The way they have ruined the industry leader is so few years is astonishing. They could write college business studies on how to ruin a company. __________________ I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. Thomas Jefferson

12-22-2015, 06:40 AM	#6
Wankel Herf God Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Wankelwerke AKG, Friedrichshaf Posts: 15,009	Who owns JRs now? When did Lew sell the company? __________________ "Hey, I found a live one!" - Red Skelton as Freddy the Freeloader, picking up a discarded, but still smoldering cigar butt.

12-22-2015, 07:51 AM	#7
nhale1300 Starting Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Mississippi Posts: 69	I hate to hear this kind of stuff. It's bad bad all the way around. There is always someone who thinks they can do it better, but I really hate when they fire people at Christmas. That's a big low! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

12-31-2015, 04:22 AM	#9
Cabaiguan Club Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: NJ, USA Posts: 4,767	Our NJ stores in Whippanny and Paramus are doing very well. New lounges with wifi and great selections. Maybe they're concentrating on certain regions of the country and focusing approach? __________________ Jamas abandonaremos nuestra patria - Brigada Asalto 2506 In God We Trust. All others we monitor. * Member, Full Flavor Federation

12-31-2015, 03:11 PM	#10
gumby Contributing Editor MOM November 2012 Emeritus Honorary MOM November 2021 Herf God Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 47,304	Wait. Wait just a minute. a CABAIGUAN siting?!!! __________________ I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. Thomas Jefferson