North Carolina
Iconic North Carolina furniture maker shutters, leaving more questions than answers
Laffer Tengler CEO and CIO Nancy Tengler and Heritage Foundation economist EJ Antoni break down what the U.S. GDP growth and U.S. job growth slowdown means for Americans on The Evening Edit.
High-end furniture maker Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams abruptly shut down in its home state of North Carolina last weekend after more than three decades in business, leaving hundreds of workers out of a job with little notice or explanation.
On Saturday, signs were posted on the truck gate and office door of the company’s main plant in Taylorsville, informing employees, “Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams has recently and unexpectedly learned that we are unable to continue business operations,” and telling them not to report to work on Monday, according to the Taylorsville Times.
The notice added, “We are sorry about the difficulties this may cause. As soon as we have a schedule to get your tools & personal belongings, we will contact you. Thank you.”
A Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Shop-in-Shop at Bloomingdale’s on March 8, 2018 in New York City. The luxury furniture maker with stores across the country abruptly shut down operations last weekend. ( Craig Barritt/Getty Images for New York Magazine / Getty Images)
The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act requires companies to provide employees with a 60-day heads up in advance of plant closures or mass layoffs, but Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams interim CEO Chris Moye issued a WARN notice to the state’s Commerce Department dated Aug. 26, informing the agency that the roughly 533 workers employed at the luxury manufacturer in the state would be laid off permanently within two weeks starting Aug. 28.
RURAL NORTH CAROLINA HOSPITAL 11TH FORCED TO SHUT DOWN, CHANGE SERVICES THIS YEAR
“In particular, and as you may have read in the news, the current economic climate has presented significant challenges to the U.S. furniture industry,” Moye wrote. “We have also recently and unexpectedly learned that the Company is unable to secure critical financing to continue business operations.”
Spokespeople for Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams did not reply to FOX Business’ request for comment.
The company was founded in 1989 by Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams, and Arkansas-based private equity firm The Stephens Group became majority shareholder in 2014.
Mitchell Gold, left, and Bob Williams attend the New York Magazine + Bloomingdale’s celebration of the new Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Shop-in-Shop at Bloomingdale’s on March 8, 2018 in New York City. (Craig Barritt/Getty Images for New York Magazine / Getty Images)
Both co-founders stayed on and were involved in operating the company for a number of years. Williams retired in 2019, and Gold told the Taylorville Times he and his former business partner had no involvement in the company’s operations from that time until April of this year, when Gold returned to assist Moye, who had just been hired on as chief executive.
Gold told the outlet that he is “beyond heartbroken, depressed, frustrated, and angry” about the closure, saying, “I feel just horrible for my employees, who have been such great employees for so many years. Some have been there for six months, some have been there for 34 years.”
AUGUST JOBS REPORT LIKELY TO POINT TO SLOWING LABOR MARKET
The Stephens Group said in a statement regarding Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams’ closure that “While we do everything we can to support our portfolio companies, how their stories play out are not always fully within our control.”
The firm said it had worked closely with the furniture company for the past nine years, and recently invested another $20 million to restructure it.
“Unfortunately, shortly after this restructuring, the Company’s lender withdrew its support, forcing Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams to cease operations,” the statement read. “The Stephens Group knows that the Company has done the best it could in a very challenging situation and empathizes with all those who are impacted.”
Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams Home Furnishings stands closed as potential customers pass by on 14 Street NW on August 28, 2023, in Washington, DC. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams has 24 showrooms across the country. Axios reported that as of Wednesday, its Washington, D.C., design store was still open, but an employee there said it is set to close. The outlet noted Hillary Clinton is a former customer of the luxury brand.
Business of Home reported this week that “[t]he entire furniture industry, which has been struggling since the pandemic boom was replaced by declining sales 18 months ago, remains on edge, and it’s likely that more shoes will drop.”
The publication pointed to other furniture businesses that have shuttered over the past several months, including Klausser and United Furniture, which abruptly laid off nearly its entire workforce before Thanksgiving last year in similar fashion to Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams.
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Meanwhile, the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams employees that lost their jobs are seeking recompense.
Home Accents Today reported Thursday that a former upholstery inspection worker for the company filed a lawsuit against it on behalf of herself and the roughly “700 other employees” that worked for the company, claiming the furniture maker violated the WARN Act. The plaintiffs are seeking 60 days’ worth of unpaid wages and benefits.
North Carolina
NC has some of the most dangerous roads in the US: See how Wilmington-area counties rank
With a recent study revealing North Carolina as one of the states with the riskiest roads to travel, some may wonder how safe the roads are here in the Cape Fear region.
MarketWatch Guides, a site that provides “reviews of consumer products and services to help readers make educated purchasing decisions,” focuses in part on car insurance comparisons, vehicle safety and more.
A recent study by the site analyzed factors including annual miles driven per 100,000 system miles, percentage of rough roads and fatal injuries per 100,000 licensed drivers. States were given a rating out of 10 points, with 10 being the most dangerous.
More: Distracted driving in Wilmington: How big of a problem is it?
North Carolina’s ranking among the most dangerous
According to the study, the states with the most dangerous drivers based on the factors studied are:
- Louisiana – 7.55/10
- California – 7.21/10
- New Mexico – 6.74/10
- Hawaii – 6.73/10
- Delaware – 6.67/10
- New Jersey – 6.53/10
- Mississippi – 6.47/10
- North Carolina – 6.39/10
- Massachusetts – 6.33/10
- Maryland and Texas – 6.26/10
According to the study, North Carolina had 32.5 fatal injuries per 100,000 licensed drivers, but only 2.1% of rough roads, which was the lowest percentage out of the other ranked states.
For a more localized perspective, the North Carolina Department of Transportation releases annual traffic crash facts data. The most recent 2022 report includes a ranking of counties based on several factors, including reported crashes, crash severity, crash rates based on population, registered vehicles and estimated vehicle miles traveled.
The most dangerous county for drivers, ranked at No. 1 for the past five years, was Robeson County. The county had 60 fatal crashes in 2022 with 1,136 non-fatal injury crashes. The rest of the total 4,056 crashes were property-damage-only. The county with the best ranking was Hyde County, coming in at No. 100. The county had one fatal crash in 2022 and 10 non-fatal injury crashes. The county had a total of 45 crashes, the rest of which were property damage only.
More: MyReporter: Which intersections see the most red-light camera violations in Wilmington?
Here’s where the Cape Fear region counties ranked.
Brunswick County
Ranked No. 76 in 2022, Brunswick County had 25 fatal crashes and 715 non-fatal injury crashes. The total crashes for that year were 3,146. The remainder of the crashes were property damage only.
New Hanover County
Ranked No. 58, New Hanover had 19 fatal crashes and 1,313 non-fatal injury crashes, both of which went down from 2021. The total crashes in New Hanover were 5,617. The remainder of the crashes were property damage only.
Pender County
Ranked No. 47, Pender County had the worst ranking despite having the lowest number of crashes. The county had 12 fatal crashes and 374 non-fatal injury crashes, and a total of 1,156 crashes. The rest of the crashes were property damage only.
Iris Seaton, USA Today Network, contributed to this report.
Tropical Storm Debby already has parts of Florida under tropical storm warnings. The Florida Big Bend is currently under a Hurricane Warning. Debby is forecast to briefly strengthen into a category 1 hurricane as it moves over the Gulf of Mexico where water temperatures are near 90 degrees.
As it continues its path over land it is expected to dial back to tropical storm strength as it reaches the Carolinas mid to late next week. Moderate rainfall is possible for northeast North Carolina and southern Virginia by the end of the week.
Higher amounts of rain are possible for southernmost portions of the Outer Banks but generally models show 2-4 inches for northeast North Carolina and 1-2 inches for southern Virginia through Thursday.
Stay with News 3’s First Warning Weather Team for the latest updates as the storm develops.
The National Hurricane Center continues to monitor a tropical depression over Cuba. It’s expected to become a tropical storm later Saturday, bringing impacts to the Carolinas around the middle of next week.
Heavy rainfall and flooding are the primary impacts expected, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington.
“Gusty winds are also possible, but it is too early to predict specific impacts in great detail at this time,” the weather service said.
At the same time, there is the potential for heavy rainfall and some flooding associated with front expected to stall inland this weekend.
As of 11 a.m. Saturday, the center of the tropical depression, which would be name Debby if it becomes a tropical storm, was over Cuba and moving west-northwest near 15 mph. The hurricane center said a turn toward the northwest is forecast for Saturday, followed by a northward motion on Sunday and then a slower northeastwardmotion Sunday night and Monday.
Maximum sustained winds were near 35 mph. Slow strengthening is expected throughout the day Saturday. Faster strengthening is possible Sunday, with the storm nearing hurricane strength when it reaches the Florida Gulf Coast, the hurricane center said.
STORM TRACKER: Monitor the latest tropical developments here.
Here’s a look at what we can expect in the Wilmington area, according to the latest briefing from the National Weather Service in Wilmington.
Wind
The probability of tropical storm force winds has increased, especially for the South Carolina coast. The most likely time of arrival of for northeast South Carolina is Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, and for Southeastern North Carolina is during Wednesday morning.
Rain
The potential for significant rainfall exists with 8 to 12 inches possible from near Cape Fear to portions of thenortheast South Carolina coast. Flash flooding and urban flooding are possible. Some rivers, including the North Cape Fear River and the Waccamaw River, could exceed flood stage next week.
INTERACTIVE MAP: Enter your address to see hurricanes, tropical storms that have passed nearby
Marine impacts
Rough surf, including dangerous rip currents, and hazardous marine conditions are expected this weekend and will persist into the upcoming week.
Are you prepared for a hurricane?
Hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. Even if this system won’t pose a threat to the NC coast, it’s never too early to be prepared.
GET READY: Are you prepared for a hurricane? Here’s what to know if you live in the Wilmington area.
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