Art Van Furniture Continues Growth In Northern Michigan With Opening Of Gaylord Store, In Addition To Expansion Into Illinois And Ohio

WARREN, Mich., April 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Art Van Furniture will continue its expansion in Northern Michigan and into Illinois and Ohio over the spring and summer, with a new store opening in Gaylord (MI), in addition to the previously announced store openings in Toledo and Chicago.  The opening of the new stores will also coincide with the closing of the company's store in Onaway, MI. 

"Art Van Furniture's expansion outside Michigan is a first in the company's 54-year history," said Art Van Elslander, founder and chairman of Art Van Furniture. "This summer will prove to be one of record growth for the company. We look forward to bringing the Art Van Furniture name to guests in Illinois and Ohio and offering them the same quality and unique shopping experience that Michigan has enjoyed over the last half-century."

"As we continue to open new stores, it is also important we assess our existing stores. With stores in Traverse City, Petoskey, Alpena, plus Gaylord, we believe we can effectively service the Northern Michigan communities and have decided to close our Onaway store in May. This is not a decision we have come to lightly, and every effort will be made to find new positions within the company for our Onaway associates."

Art Van Furniture will open five new stores and a distribution center between July and September 2013.  The company previously announced that it will expand into Illinois this year, with five new stores set to open in Chicago's Batavia, Bolingbrook, Orland Park, Ford City and Lincoln Park areas.  Art Van Furniture also recently opened two new PureSleep stores in Sterling Heights (MI) and Kalamazoo (MI), with three more opening this spring in West Bloomfield (MI); Midland (MI); and Toledo (OH), bringing the total number of PureSleep stores to eleven throughout Michigan and Ohio.

About Art Van Furniture
Art Van Furniture is Michigan's largest furniture retailer and America's largest independent furniture retailer. The company operates 36 stores throughout Michigan, a full service e-commerce website, plus eight freestanding Art Van PureSleep bedding stores in Ann Arbor, Brighton, Canton, Kalamazoo, New Hudson, Rochester Hills, Sterling Heights and Troy, Michigan. Founded in 1959, the company is family-owned and headquartered in Warren, Michigan. Visit www.artvan.com for more information.

SOURCE Art Van Furniture