Art Van Furniture To Open First Chicagoland Franchise In Rockford, Illinois

WARREN, Mich., Oct. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Two highly respected, family owned home furnishing retailers to come together as one! Art Van Furniture, the Midwest's No. 1 furniture and mattress retailer, has signed a franchising agreement with Ingrassia Interior Elements in Rockford, Illinois, a fixture in the community for 93 years. Ingrassia Interior Elements (7047 Newburg Road), owned by Rose Ingrassia-Belida and Brian Belida, will officially close this month and reopen November 7, 2015 as Art Van Furniture of Rockford.

"For almost a century, three generations of the Ingrassia family has carried out the dream of founders and brothers Nunzio and Joe Ingrassia to serve the Rockford community with heart, passion and service," said Art Van Elslander, founder and chairman of Art Van Furniture. "We are delighted that Rose and Brian are joining our 55 year old family company and together, we will continue to strengthen the bonds they have built with their guests."

The family's original store in Rockford opened in 1922 as a furniture and hardware store. It changed locations within the city, as well as its name, several times over the years, and in 1999, Rose and Brian Belida purchased the business, renaming it Ingrassia Interior Elements and moving to its current Newburg Road location.

"We are excited to join ranks with one of the most successful family owned furniture retailers in the United States," said Rose and Brian Belida. "Our partnership with Art Van Furniture will provide us with an extraordinary opportunity to serve our community for many more generations to come."     

The new store will feature such name brands as La-Z-Boy, Broyhill, Flex Steel, Southern Motion, Bernhardt as well as Natuzzi and Roma Leather lines. It will also house a state-of-the-art Art Van PureSleep and Art Van Clearance Center. 

Art Van Furniture of Rockford will be the ninth Art Van Furniture location in Chicagoland. The retailer's current eight stores are in Batavia, Bedford Park, Chicago (Logan Square), Downers Grove, Naperville, Orland Park and Woodridge (Bolingbrook) in Illinois and Merrillville, Indiana. For more information, visit artvan.com.

About Art Van Furniture
Art Van Furniture is the Midwest's largest furniture retailer and America's largest independent furniture retailer. The company operates 94 stores throughout Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and Indiana, including freestanding Art Van PureSleep mattress stores, Art Van Flooring stores, and Art Van Furniture franchise locations as well as a full service e-commerce website. Founded in 1959, the company is family-owned and headquartered in Warren, Michigan. Visit artvan.com for more information.

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SOURCE Art Van Furniture

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