By Tisha Lewis, FOX 32 News reporter - bio | email
CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) -
$200,000 was the starting bid on E-Bay for a double pack of Twinkies as its parent company Hostess Brands moves to liquidate all assets and lay off more than 18,000 employees nationwide.
Across the country and in Schiller Park, birthplace of the famed golden sponge cake with cream filling Twinkies were hard to come by or gone.
7-11 clerk George Judge says customers are buying the Hostess products in bulk.
"A lot of people have been coming in and trying get what little we have left because you know they're going to be gone," Judge says. "All we know right now is that we're not getting anything besides what's already on our shelf."
On Twitter, Twinkies and other Hostess products were all trending topics as news of the company's closure trickled down to Twinkie lovers like Theresa Nettnin.
"I would like them to stay in business and not discontinue it... I buy them," says Nettnin. "I don't think they should close or discontinue them at all."
But it may be too late. After members of the bakers union ignored a Thursday afternoon deadline to return to work. The company announced, "it's winding down operations and filed a motion with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court seeking permission to close its business, including its iconic brands and facilities."
At least 300 employees at this Hostess Schiller Park plant face layoffs.
Huddled under a tent, some remained optimistic Friday night, still believing Hostess may be bluffing.
"We feel it's just more tactics and scare tactics to try and get certain facilities to stay open and run," Hostess employee Derek Morrow said.
"The union doesn't want to shut down the company, does the company want to shut it down? You have to have both sides that want this to be a positive relationship and a profitable company," says University of Illinois' Labor & Employment Relations Professor Steven Ashby.
Thursday, June 13 2013 1:45 PM EDT2013-06-13 17:45:09 GMT
Even a fire hydrant is feeling the Blackhawks spirit, especially after Chicago's midnight victory over the Boston Bruins at the United Center in triple overtime.
Even a fire hydrant is feeling the Blackhawks spirit, especially after Chicago's midnight victory over the Boston Bruins at the United Center in triple overtime.
Monday, February 25 2013 1:41 PM EST2013-02-25 18:41:37 GMT
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 3:48 PM EDT2013-06-19 19:48:47 GMT
A body found in the water off the 39th street beach Wednesday has been positively identified as missing University of Chicago student Austin Hudson-Lapore, the Cook County Medical Examiner's office confirmed.
A body found in the water off the 39th street beach Wednesday has been positively identified as missing University of Chicago student Austin Hudson-Lapore, the Cook County Medical Examiner's office confirmed.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 3:48 PM EDT2013-06-19 19:48:16 GMT
Chicago is at the tipping point, as the showdown continues over CPS closings. The final bell will ring for more than half of the public schools scheduled to close on Friday, under CPS' reorganization plan.
Chicago is at the tipping point, as the showdown continues over CPS closings. The final bell will ring for more than half of the public schools scheduled to close on Friday, under CPS' reorganization plan.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 2:12 PM EDT2013-06-19 18:12:39 GMT
Police are urging parents and community members to exercise caution after a man tried luring an 11-year-old girl into a car in the North Side Albany Park neighborhood.
Police are urging parents and community members to exercise caution after a man tried luring an 11-year-old girl into a car in the North Side Albany Park neighborhood.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 2:08 PM EDT2013-06-19 18:08:32 GMT
After collecting tens of thousands of dollars for themselves on Wednesday, members of the General Assembly plan to kick the can of public employee pension reform down the road for at least one more month.
After collecting tens of thousands of dollars for themselves on Wednesday, members of the General Assembly plan to kick the can of public employee pension reform down the road for at least one more month.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 1:32 PM EDT2013-06-19 17:32:03 GMT
Nearly 9 percent of Illinois' bridges are "structurally deficient" and in need of serious maintenance or replacement -- an uptick of 1 percent from two years ago, a new report indicates.
Nearly 9 percent of Illinois' bridges are "structurally deficient" and in need of serious maintenance or replacement -- an uptick of 1 percent from two years ago, a new report indicates.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 12:53 PM EDT2013-06-19 16:53:49 GMT
Police on Tuesday said they are looking for a maroon Hyundai Sonata that fatally struck a woman in a Bridgeport hit-and-run last week on the South Side.
Police on Tuesday said they are looking for a maroon Hyundai Sonata that fatally struck a woman in a Bridgeport hit-and-run last week on the South Side.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 12:04 PM EDT2013-06-19 16:04:44 GMT
A man previously convicted of sex trafficking in Cook County has been charged again, this time for allegedly kidnapping a Minnesota woman and bringing her to Chicago to work in the sex trade.
A man previously convicted of sex trafficking in Cook County has been charged again, this time for allegedly kidnapping a Minnesota woman and bringing her to Chicago to work in the sex trade.
