A Mullican Flooring plant in Ronceverte, W. Va., will permanently close around Thanksgiving, costing about 70 people their jobs, according to a 60-day WARN notice of layoff to employees, reported on by MetroNews out of West Virginia. The plant is operated by Baillie Lumber Company in Hamburg, N.Y.
The company said there is low demand for high-end hardwood flooring in the current economy and, according to a source, it cannot continue producing due to an already high inventory.
Company officials also pointed to the cost of running the plant: The Ronceverte location pays the highest property taxes of any of the company’s sites. Plus, the cost of water and flood insurance premiums are high.
The plant celebrated its 40th anniversary last year, having opened in 1985. The original site included a sawmill which was built in the 1950s and shut down in 2008. Mullican Flooring was a major employer in Greenbrier County.
