2011: RR Donnelly announces Eldridge closure

June 8, 2011: The community was left stunned after RR Donnelly announced it would close its Eldridge plant, effective July 31, and 278 employees would lose their jobs. “No one saw this coming,” said Eldridge city administrator John Dowd. “We’ve been pretty fortunate when it comes to economic news, but that run of good luck seems to be done.” Company officials cited “changing market conditions” as the reason for the closure. The company opened in 1982 as Bawden Printing and was purchased by Von Hoffman Graphics in 1999. Eight years later, it was acquired by RR Donnelly. Employees said, since the new ownership, the environment at the company had not been the same.