Brief history of Levin Furniture and its Western Pennsylvania roots

A look back at the history of Levin Furniture, which has grown from its Westmoreland County roots into the region’s largest furniture retailer.

1920 | “Peddler” Sam Levin opens store at 600 W. Main St. in Mt. Pleasant, selling hardware items, furniture and other general goods, including flyswatters, expandable window screens and “parlor suites.” Business eventually focuses on furniture and mattresses.

1943 | Leonard Levin, the first son, begins to expand the business. His wife, Sally, handles buying, merchandising and advertising.

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Sam Levin, founder of Levin Furniture

1978 | Leonard and Sally’s older son, Howard Levin, enters the family business. Within seven years, he opens five retail furniture stores in the Pittsburgh area.

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Leonard Levin with his young sons, Robert (left) and Howard, and his father, founder Sam Levin, circa 1957.

1989 | Howard Levin becomes company president following his father’s death.

1992 | Levin’s expands into the Cleveland market by opening three stores — growing the company total to nine stores. Howard Levin dies at age 40. Robert Levin leaves his career in Washington, D.C., to take over the family business after his brother’s death.

Submitted

Buildings on Bridgeport Street in Mt. Pleasant were home to Bryce Brothers Glass Co. and later belonged to Levin Furniture. An arson in 1998 destroyed much of the property.

2017 | Michigan-based Art Van Furniture buys Levin’s, which has grown to 35 stores in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

2020 | Robert Levin announces deal to buy back Levin Furniture as Art Van Furniture files for bankruptcy.

NEW: Former owner Robert Levin is coming out of retirement to take over the company again. https://t.co/9uySAaO68D

— TribLIVE.com (@TribLIVE) March 5, 2020

Sources: Levin Furniture, Tribune-Review