The former owner of Levin Furniture will come out of retirement to take over the furniture company that was at risk of going out of business, officials said Thursday.
A statement from the company indicated a deal was struck Wednesday night in which Robert Levin will acquire the Pennsylvania and Ohio Levin Furniture and Wolf Furniture locations. The agreement came through a restructuring of the stores’ parent company, Art Van Furniture.
The store was sold to the Michigan-based chain in 2017.
“I’m coming back as the owner of Levin Furniture for the employees who were at risk of losing their jobs,” Levin said in a statement. “They are the most loyal, dedicated and hardworking people I’ve ever known.”
Gathering with Monroeville store employees. Robert Levin: “The most important thing is we saved 1,200 jobs.” pic.twitter.com/O6KSqXxVmm
— Stephen Huba (@shuba_trib) March 5, 2020
The announcement came about an hour before the Detroit Free Press reported that Art Van will shut down and will begin liquidation sales at all of its company-owned stores in Michigan, Illinois, Missouri and Ohio.
“Despite our best efforts to remain open, the company’s brands and operating performance have been hit hard by a challenging retail environment,” Diane Charles, Art Van Furniture spokeswoman, said in a statement to the Free Press.
Levin assured customers their deposits and purchases are “safe and secure.”
“Our customers are the lifeblood of our business, and we are truly grateful for their continued support,” he said.
The Detroit Free-Press reported last month that Art Van’s private equity owner was looking into a sale of the store or filing for bankruptcy.
