Another longtime name in North Carolina manufacturing is pulling back. Parkdale Mills plans to close its Lexington yarn factory on June 7, 2026, cutting 68 jobs as the Gastonia-based company continues to shrink its U.S. footprint.
According to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Parkdale filed a WARN notice on April 9 listing the Lexington operation as a permanent closure, effective June 7, with 68 employees affected. The state keeps a public list of WARN notices that employers are required to file when they close or lay off workers.
The Lexington move follows a January WARN filing and the March shutdown of Parkdale's Walnut Cove plant, which resulted in 72 job losses. As reported by WXII, that closure was signaled in state filings earlier this year.
Company Points To Climbing Energy Bills
In its filings and in local coverage, Parkdale has cited rapidly rising energy costs, arguing that those bills have made it economically unsustainable to keep smaller plants running. As reported by the Charlotte Observer, company officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the latest closure.
Century-Old Yarn Giant Keeps Slimming Down
Parkdale traces its roots to Gastonia more than a century ago and grew into one of the world's largest spun-yarn producers, according to the company's history page, which is detailed on Parkdale's website.
State notices and local reporting show that Parkdale has cut hundreds of jobs in North Carolina over the past eight years. Closures in Rowan, Yadkin, Martin and Lee counties together total roughly 468 positions, reporting by the Charlotte Observer found. It is a stark tally for a company that once loomed large as a regional employer.
What Comes Next For Laid-Off Workers
WARN filings are designed to give workers advance notice and trigger state support. The Department of Commerce posts public WARN listings and links to re-employment services for people who lose their jobs.
Per the state's WARN pages, affected Parkdale employees can access job search help and retraining resources, while the agency coordinates with local workforce boards. For the 68 Lexington workers, those programs will likely be the first stop once the yarn mill goes dark in June 2026.
