WARREN, Mich. — Art Van Furniture announced Thursday that the company has decided to close and begin liquidation sales of all stores in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri.
"Despite our best efforts to remain open, the company's brands and operating performance have been hit hard by a challenging retail environment," said Diane Charles, Art Van Furniture spokesperson. "We recognize the extraordinary retail, community and philanthropic legacies that Art Van Furniture has built for decades in the community."
Going out of business sales at all stores will begin on March 6.
"On behalf of the Company we want to offer our sincere appreciation to our employees for their dedication, commitment and hard work. We also want to extend our gratitude to the many customers, vendors, franchisees, charities and communities who have supported these retailers," said Charles.
Art Van was founded by Art Van Elslander, who opened his first furniture store in Detroit in 1959 and grew it to the number one furniture and mattress retailer in the Midwest, according to the company.
Springfield Township Locations
The ArtVan Furniture store in Spring Meadows off of I-475 has been open for several years and was redeveloped from an old cinema.
The Art Van Pure Sleep on Airport and McCord store will also close.
Bob Bethel, a trustee for the township said that he's feeling optimistic they'll be able to fill the vacancies, given their history of filling vacancies at Spring Meadows rather quickly in the past.
"The good news is we think that it's a very valuable location. We'll do everything we can to make that another store of some type. We'll work with developers to try and find that spot or both spots, actually," he said. "I still think a good part of the population still likes going to stores and shopping. I don't think that's going to go away. You just have to have the right mix of stores in an area to get people to come out there."
