Mass Layoff of Illinois Workers as Wood Manufacturer Shuts Down

A wood products manufacturer in Illinois has decided to close its doors forever which has resulted in a mass layoff of workers who just learned they will be jobless sometime in June.

I saw the Illinois Work Net site post a new WARN notice showing that many wood workers are about to be jobless. It says that Starved Rock Wood Products LLC has notified the state of Illinois that they will be laying off 58 workers on June 8, 2025.

That 58 layoff number seems to be conservative as the Shaw Local News Network is that this Mendota, Illinois company will actually be letting 77 workers go. The difference in numbers could be due to the fact that the confirming report includes remote workers, too, while the WARN notice may have only included those who worked in the facility itself.

It appears that the company tried to explore options with financial experts prior to deciding to close the Mendota facility according to the Shaw Local News Network report.

The official Starved Rock Wood Products site says they have manufactured fine cabinetry and kitchen products for 30 years. That includes stairs, railings and all types of other woodwork. Sadly, that three decade run appears to be coming to a close. Let's hope those 77 workers find new opportunities soon.