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The Jeff Kay Curse Strikes Again! Another of My Former Employers Bites the Dust

August 14, 2012 By Jeff 50 Comments

This past weekend the infamous Dunbar Fas-Chek closed its doors for good.  I worked there when I was fresh out of high school, for about three years.  It was quite an experience.  You can read one of the many stories here. Wotta shithole.

By the way, you can see my old bedroom window in this shot. I slept and rocked out, and whatnot (ahem), behind those windows from the ages of 11 through 22.

Almost every place I’ve ever worked has now bitten the dust. Here’s a rundown:

Dunbar Toll Bridge GONE
Fas-Chek  GONE
Dunbar Exxon  GONE
Food Lion  STILL KICKIN’
Peaches Records  GONE
Gemini Distributing  GONE
Warner-Elektra-Atlantic  GONE
Warner Home Video  STILL KICKIN’

I’m closin’ ’em down!  Please note, however, that the toll bridge itself still exists. The toll has just been lifted — and all the toll collector jobs are GONE.  Also, I think WEA still exists in some form — maybe a couple of cubicles in Burbank — but the company I knew is… GONE.

I have a whole section of my new book (not just a chapter, but a section) dedicated to my tenure at Fas-Chek. Oh, the stories are many….  Did I mention, wotta shithole?  Maybe I should be sad about its demise, but for some reason I’m not feeling it.

I radically overslept today, so this is gonna have to do it.  Can you beat my percentage of closed businesses left in your wake?  Please tell us about it.  And I’m going to work now….  No chance the current place is going under anytime soon.  Holy shitballs, are we busy!

See ya tomorrow, my friends.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lee Harvey Ramone says

    August 14, 2012 at 2:20 pm

    I think Burger King is still kicking….

    Reply
  2. icecycle66 says

    August 14, 2012 at 2:22 pm

    Man, you can even slaughter the big boys. I fear that a cubicle farm in wherever the hell you are now is going to crumble into dust if they lose you.

    Reply
  3. Knucklehead says

    August 14, 2012 at 2:36 pm

    I think only two of my old employers have bitten the dust. Sears in San Jose, CA (where I worked in high school and have many stories about) and Laufen Tile – a Swiss tile company with American HQ in Sacramento. I was their San Francisco rep many moons ago. I think that does it.

    Happy Tuesday, Surfers!

    Reply
  4. Fat Dave says

    August 14, 2012 at 2:42 pm

    The business I own is closing in the next month or so. Does that count?

    Reply
    • Jed says

      August 14, 2012 at 2:48 pm

      Only if you need a loan.

      Reply
  5. Jed says

    August 14, 2012 at 2:52 pm

    I’ve noticed that businesses tend to blossom after my departure. Since I own my own business now, that puts me in a persistent state of confusion.

    Reply
  6. WB in OH says

    August 14, 2012 at 2:54 pm

    Three of the five places I’ve worked in my lifetime are closed.

    Reply
  7. Bill in WV says

    August 14, 2012 at 2:58 pm

    I also worked at this dump. I threw a $12 roast up into the ceiling tiles before I left. Wonder if it’s still there?

    Reply
    • The Qweezy Mark says

      August 14, 2012 at 3:02 pm

      I once hid a slab of fresh salmon deep behind the cereal boxes in a grocery store. Wonder how long it took to stink. (I didn’t work there).

      Reply
      • Bill in WV says

        August 14, 2012 at 3:52 pm

        I’ll bet that one caught someone’s attention ASAP! We worked with a guy who was always messing around with stuff. Of course, this was back before tamper-proof packaging was mandatory. He once opened a bottle of Heinz and stuck a tampon way down in the bottom of the bottle and put it back in regular circulation. I can just imagine the SURPRISED look on the face of that lucky person when it dumped out onto their burger or fries.

        Reply
        • BoMama says

          August 14, 2012 at 5:08 pm

          That is both gross and awesome.

          Reply
  8. Uncle_Wedgie says

    August 14, 2012 at 3:14 pm

    Go Food Lion!

    Reply
  9. Steve in WV says

    August 14, 2012 at 3:20 pm

    It’s sad that the smaller, independent grocers are closing. I hate having to go to WalMart or a 150k sq ft. Kroger to get table salt. I like the small, independent places.

    Reply
    • Bill in WV says

      August 14, 2012 at 3:53 pm

      Me too Steve!

      Reply
  10. Henderson says

    August 14, 2012 at 3:20 pm

    Off topic….

    I opened my lunch box today and found two $20’s and a bottle of fiber pills. My wife is trying to tell me something, but what could it be?

    Reply
    • madz1962 says

      August 14, 2012 at 3:33 pm

      “Take a good dump and pop for $40 worth of flowers. ”

      But I don’t want to put words in her mouth.

      Reply
    • CADude says

      August 14, 2012 at 3:57 pm

      “Thanks for last night, but it’d be better if you lost a little weight.”

      Reply
    • bikerchick says

      August 14, 2012 at 6:24 pm

      The fiber pills are for a couple of good healthy dumps. The $20’s are for extra toidy paper and new gutchies in case you don’t make it in time.

      Reply
      • chill says

        August 14, 2012 at 6:38 pm

        See also Jeff’s writeup on everyone’s favorite OTC medication: http://thewvsr.com/alli.htm

        It still astounds me that any corporation would name their bank after this product.
        .

        Reply
    • Uncle_Wedgie says

      August 14, 2012 at 6:57 pm

      Got no idea about the fiber pills but that $40 says lap dance to me.

      Reply
    • hardoxdan says

      August 14, 2012 at 7:53 pm

      She wants six Percocets as her script ran out and a 12 pack of Charmin?

      Reply
  11. Miss Q says

    August 14, 2012 at 3:20 pm

    Three of the five places where I’ve worked are gone. If you include my little stint at being self-employed (I cleaned houses in college), then 4 of 6 are gone.

    That’s weird. I never really thought about it before. Thanks, Jeff, for giving me something else to obsess over!

    Reply
  12. madz1962 says

    August 14, 2012 at 3:29 pm

    I’m 50/50 with the companies I worked for.

    McDonald’s = stil there

    A&P – the one where I worked is still there but quite a few have closed.

    Law Firm – Still kicking

    Ad Agency – GONE – oh – , ahem – “disbanded – the partners wanted to retire” – which is all a huge euphanism for: No fucking clients. The head honcho, Mike, would go out to lunch, come back at 4:45 and take us all out for drinks. It was a great place but I was told about the “disbanding” 5 months before my wedding. It wasn’t a big wedding (65 people) but still. WHo needed that stress?

    Lighting Company – GONE – creepiest muthafucka I ever had the pleasure of working four days for. The day I went to quit, I had my (soon to be) husband and his policeman friend waiting in the parking lot in case this weird bastard went postal and threw something. He did try to screw me out of a day’s pay and he took his sweet time paying me. The reason I stayed all of four days was because every one of those days I was fielding calls from bill collectors. I knew he wouldn’t last more than 6 months. I hope the cocksucker is in jail taking it deep and on a slant from some 400 pounder named “Tiny”

    Temp Company: GONE! Swallowed up by someone else.

    Current Position – Please, keep me emplyed until I reach retirement.

    Reply
    • CADude says

      August 14, 2012 at 3:36 pm

      Where is this place of which you speak–“retirement”–and if it’s so wonderful that you yearn to reach it, where might it be found?

      Reply
      • madz1962 says

        August 14, 2012 at 3:46 pm

        In the land called “Utopia”.

        Trust me, my “retirement” will probably have a guerney and medical tstaff involved with it.

        Reply
        • Henderson says

          August 14, 2012 at 4:13 pm

          My retirement housing plan is an urn.

          Reply
          • Root 66 says

            August 14, 2012 at 4:19 pm

            That’s a little cramped for me…I prefer a 3×6 plot!

            Reply
  13. Dave says

    August 14, 2012 at 3:34 pm

    I used to work for IEG, Internet Entertainment Group (lookit up, jeebus do i hafta do everything?) and I think they are toast, and i know that the founder is in exile in thailand.
    Those days were …..interesting. The last three companies i have worked for went tits up. Maybe it’s me?

    Reply
  14. Root 66 says

    August 14, 2012 at 4:17 pm

    Of the six places I’ve worked, only one has gone toes up. Probably because I tend to gravitate towards larger companies where I can be a “small duck in a big puddle!”
    I like to keep a low profile.

    Reply
  15. bikerchick says

    August 14, 2012 at 4:24 pm

    For the last 20 years or so, I’ve worked for several doctors. All are still around but may have moved to different offices or new partnerships. However, living in Indiana, PA, until I was about 24 or so, I worked in about 6 places. Mickey D’s and Wendy’s are the only ones that exist now. That was back in the glorious 80’s.

    One place was the 2-story wedding/dress shop where I witnessed some dude playing with himself in his truck at the main street light while I was standing in the window. Ahhhh. Good times

    Reply
    • madz1962 says

      August 14, 2012 at 4:28 pm

      It would be really weird if he was Mr. Bobbitt. Here today, gone tomorrow.

      Reply
  16. t-storm says

    August 14, 2012 at 4:38 pm

    Short rundown:
    GSE Gone
    Emery Worldwide Airlines Gone
    Comair (Will be gone in 6 weeks)
    Midcoast Aviation – New owners and name
    AAR – Still going strong
    Allegiant Air – probably collapse in on itself in 5 yrs
    Delta – Still there
    Domino’s – Still there
    DHL – Not sure

    Reply
  17. Alex says

    August 14, 2012 at 4:44 pm

    4 outta 5 gone.

    Alex.

    Reply
  18. T. Farty McAppleass says

    August 14, 2012 at 4:56 pm

    We’ll Walk Your Cats! – Gone
    Ed’s Knife Sharpening Shack – Gone
    We’ll Empty Your Ashtrays! – Gone
    T. Farty McAppleass’ Mailbox Repair – Gone
    Booger and Jaime’s Goat Milk Delivery – Gone
    T. Farty McAppleass’ Black Market Human Organs – Open

    Reply
    • Root 66 says

      August 15, 2012 at 8:18 am

      When I wake up with a huge cut on my side in a bathtub full of ice and alcohol, I’ll know who to thank!

      Reply
      • chill says

        August 15, 2012 at 7:37 pm

        Regarding the bathtub: http://xkcd.com/914/
        .

        Reply
    • bikerchick says

      August 15, 2012 at 8:45 am

      My bf smoke’s like crazy. One in each hand and one between his knees on case the other two go out. Could you revisit the Ashtray Emptying” business again?

      Reply
  19. chill says

    August 14, 2012 at 5:19 pm

    Digital Equipment Corporation – gone
    Federline Engineering – Bankrupt, I think. Fucker still owes me $1000 back pay. No, Dave, I haven’t forgotten.

    All others still around as far as I know.
    .

    Reply
  20. icecycle66 says

    August 14, 2012 at 6:07 pm

    Oil production company: GONE
    (by the way it’s name was “Evangiline Pumpers”. The owners were old and I don’t think they got that their company name sounding like they empoyed people to pork some fat hick named Evangiline)

    Defense contractor: GONE
    (swallowed up a dozen times by other companies, owner changes, and mergers)

    US Government: still here
    (Damn)

    Reply
  21. Tiff says

    August 14, 2012 at 6:09 pm

    In no particular order:

    McD’s – obvious
    library at JMU – still there
    various babysitting gigs – I should hope not
    UVa – still open for biz
    Harrisonburg Holiday Inn bar – no idea
    Calhoun’s – closed, but repoened
    Big Pharma company 1 – sill drruggin’ it up
    USF – grant ran out, but the school’s still open
    CRO – bigger than ever
    Small Pharma that got bought by bigger one – we still hold on to the name, and i still have a job, so I’m counting it open.

    I too tend to gravitate toward the larger institutions that are on the cusp of ‘too big to fail,’ except for the move to my current job, and even THEN we got bought out by a behemoth. I didn’t get laid off in the transition (as many other people did), so no complaints.

    Reply
  22. Lori in cbus says

    August 14, 2012 at 7:08 pm

    US Air Farce–still there
    Sears –don’t know if the ft walton branch is still there
    dinky nut shop in the mall–most likely gone
    meijer–still going strong (my fav store still)
    UPS- well, after i left with 13 years of service, people started following their dreams too and left that demoralized place (I’m looking at YOU, corporate Payroll!)

    and finally, Chase–never been happier

    Me and a couple other ex-UPSers are actively luring good people away.. its our revenge and it is working.. Chase got some, The Limited got some, Exel Logistics got some, some local businesses got some.. slowly but surely we are taking that office down..
    Just heard from a friend who is retiring in December from UPS say the controller took all the people that were left and made them stand in a circle and hold hands to tell themselves that they will make it through.

    UPS is so cheap, that they will not hire anyone to replace the losses.. they have more supervisors than workers now.. i love hearing that another one has come to their senses and left.

    Mind you, I am only talking about the corp. payroll office.. still like UPS as a delivery service.

    Chase has its faults (obviously) but they treat people like adults..it’s almost like working for Google, minus the live-in perks and segways

    Reply
    • Max says

      August 15, 2012 at 12:47 pm

      We’ve got quite a few people over here at Cardinal that worked at The Limited previously.

      Reply
  23. Don says

    August 14, 2012 at 8:21 pm

    If it’s like the other Fas-Chek doings here in wv, Jeff, they will re-open it as a Save-A-Lot supermarket in the near future, selling generic brands and sporting lower prices…which just happens to also be owned by Mr. Fas-Chek himself, Don Tate. You should hear the public service spots he does on local AM radio…I shudder every time I hear his voice until I can turn the dial.

    My first 9-5 was another long-gone WV favorite, Heck’s.

    Reply
    • Bill in WV says

      August 15, 2012 at 10:26 am

      This one’s gonna be a Dollar General. Just what the mayor told me.

      Reply
  24. hollerbabe says

    August 14, 2012 at 9:28 pm

    How about beach houses being totally wiped out by hurricanes a year after we stayed in them for our weeklong vacation? That was in better times (for us, anyway–not the owners of the beach houses), but the tally stands at 4 for 4. As for jobs, I worked at hospitals for half of my working career and they tend to stay open pretty much. However, my better half worked for 5 finance companies early in his working phase that are now gone, and then for 9 rent to own companies, at least half of which–including the one he was part owner of–have either simply closed their doors or been assimilated. Then there is the phenomenon of changing careers. I grew up with the notion that I would find a job and stay with it throughout my working days. I guess many of us did. Not only did that not happen, I calculate I reinvented myself 4 times during my working life. Not that I don’t work now, it’s just that it’s not for financial gain. Unless you count making homemade cleaning products and cooking from scratch to save money as financial gain. But that’s another story. After the early pre college and college days of food service jobs, I worked as a nurse for 20 years or so. Then, I was a teacher. Next, I tried insurance coding (but then, we all make career choices that turn out to be mistakes–just some bigger than others), and last and decidedly least, I was an at home medical transcriptionist for 10 years or so, where it finally dawned on me that modern society is to its workers what the floor of a rendering plant is to its livestock–a slow death accomplished by squeezing the last drop of life out of you. Call me a slow learner. Good memories, all around. I hope to have my recovery completed by the time I begin to collect social security.

    Reply
    • bikerchick says

      August 15, 2012 at 9:11 am

      Reinventing myself has been my whole life! And I’m currently trying to do it again. I have always been an artistic person. Being in the general working population can beat you down to a pulp.

      Reply
  25. westersteve says

    August 15, 2012 at 8:28 am

    parkside drive-in – gone
    Sears still there
    home hardware – gone
    woolco- gone
    kiddie city -gone
    woodville mall- gone
    lane drug – gone
    cub food (columbus)-gone
    script rx -gone
    asissted care-gone
    kindred health- gone
    us health gone (not us healthcare)
    ohio health still here
    2 still kicking 9 all gone

    Reply
  26. mexicomotorcycle says

    August 15, 2012 at 2:13 pm

    the first thing I ever read by you was your tales of working at Fas-Check….I was hooked from that moment on.

    Reply
  27. Tiff says

    August 17, 2012 at 10:40 am

    Oh wait – is Wilson’s Suede and Leather still around? How about Woodward and Lothrop? Ship n’ Shore? Fairfax County Park and Rec?

    I forgot some positions of power I used to hold…

    Reply
    • chill says

      August 17, 2012 at 7:08 pm

      Woodie’s is long gone, as is Hecht’s. And Hechinger’s. I haven’t seen a Wilson’s in a hell’s age – didn’t they used to have a store in Fair Oaks Mall? FC Park and Rec must be around, since the parks are. Never heard of Ship ‘n’ Shore.
      .

      Reply

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