Munro & Company Closing Mt. Ida Facility, 85 To Lose Jobs

Hot Springs-based shoe manufacturer Munro & Company will close its Mt. Ida facility laying off 85 workers permanently.

Munro will continue to manufacture at its other two Arkansas facilities in Clarksville and Hot Springs.

“Since my father built the Mount Ida factory in 1968, our family has been proud to be a part of that community. We could not have asked for a more cooperative, skilled and loyal workforce,” said CEO Bruce Munro.

The principal brand of Munro & Company is the Munro American brand of women’s footwear, which is available in department stores and specialty boutiques nationwide.

“We are one of the very few remaining domestic shoe manufacturers in America and we are committed to maintaining as large a domestic presence as is competitively feasible – but that comes with a price,” Munro said. “To remain a viable company and retain our reputation for manufacturing very high quality footwear known for exceptional fit, it’s apparent that the production needs don’t support our current production capacity.”

Munro said import competition made it difficult to compete.

He added that employees will have opportunities to transfer to other facilities and severance packages will be provided.