Some doors shut, others open

This week's Around the State brings news of more business closures than we've seen in quite some time. Businesses included well-known names, like the closure of the T.G.I. Fridays restaurants in Vancouver and Portland (according to The Columbian, 9-21-09).

There were also several large business closures, such as Benchmark Electronics Inc. of Beaverton, which will close its doors by the end of the year and lay off 183 people. The company manufactures electronic circuit boards and provides service on their products (Portland Business Journal, 9-17-09).

Still other closures included Kentcuck Golf Course in North Bend (KCBY.com, 9-9-09) and Maxweld Boats in Hebo (Headlight Herald, 9-16-09).

BUT despite all of these announcements, there were still many openings or expansions. For instance...

· Corvallis will soon benefit from the addition of two new grocery stores: a Trader Joe's and a Market of Choice (Corvallis Gazette-Times, 9-21-09).

· ARAMARK, the food service contractor at Eastern Oregon University, will increase its La Grande staff to accommodate added demand brought on by a jump in freshmen enrollment at the university (The Observer, 9-14-09).

· Mollie’s Restaurant, a 24-hour diner next to a fuel center and convenience store on Highway 97 near Klamath Falls, reopened (Herald and News, 9-14-09).

Older issues of Around the State are also available.