White Marsh GM Plant, Don Pablo’s & Red’s Market to Close

It was a rough day for local businesses in eastern Baltimore County as the General Motors (GM) plant in White Marsh, Don Pablo’s in the Avenue and Red’s Market in Kingsville all announced they are closing their doors.

In a press release from GM, it announced that the White Marsh plant and a plant in Michigan will be “unallocated in 2019”. The White Marsh powertrain plant on Philadelphia Road opened in 2000 and GM reported it has over 300 employees.

Many local officials were upset with the news and released statements on the GM closure.
“Baltimore County stands with the workers and their families who are part of a decades-long GM manufacturing legacy in Baltimore, from advanced hybrid motors in White Marsh to vehicle production at Broening Highway. Our workers are second to none,” said interim-Baltimore County Executive Don Mohler.
“The county’s workforce development team is available immediately to assist with job and career counseling services for the 300 GM workers whose jobs will be affected next year. The Eastpoint Career Center will help match GM workers with other employers looking for their skills in advanced manufacturing and connect them to training and job search workshops.”

Congressman C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger was also not happy with GM’s decision.
“This plant has always been a source of pride for the Second District, Baltimore County and me, personally. It’s a modern manufacturing facility with a workforce to match and we are not ready to close this door yet. In the meantime, we stand ready to assist affected workers any way we can,” Ruppersberger said.

The owners of Red’s Market on Belair Road in Kingsville also announced their closure due to a leasing dispute.
“With the saddest of hearts we have an announcement: REDS MUST CLOSE it’s DOORS.
Where Mr. Kurrle loved the store and considered us partners, the children that inherited the store, not so much,” said a social media statement from the Red’s Market Facebook page.
“On November 16th the new landlords sent us an email via their lawyer stating, ‘we will not negotiate a new lease’. To say this was a shock, is an understatement. We are only given six weeks [Dec. 31] to exit and close the business we love and worked so hard to create.”

Councilman David Marks, who represents the Kingsville area, hopes that Red’s will find a new home before the end of the year
“It’s always a shame to lose a small-town business, one valued by so many customers. I talked to Mike Tull with Red’s Market and offered my assistance – as I would provide to any business. I am optimistic that they will find a location,” said Marks.

In addition, multiple outlets on social media have posted a note on the doors at the Don Pablo’s in the Avenue that reported the closure of the Tex-Mex restaurant.

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