Longtime Michigan retailer Oscar Rau's to close after sale

Fenton Home Furnishings to occupy building Aug. 1

Clint Engel -- Furniture Today, February 22, 2011

FRANKENMUTH, Mich. — The 66-year-old upscale Oscar Rau's furniture store here has sold its building to Fenton Home Furnishings and will be closing after a liquidation sale.

Ray Rau, owner and CEO of Oscar Rau's in this Bavarian-themed city, said in a release that he is closing the store to focus on his R.J. Rau Management Corp., a high impact and liquidation sale specialist. Terms of the deal with Fenton founder and CEO Gerald Willey were not disclosed.

According to Oscar Rau's, Fenton needed the 30,000-square-foot space to expand with an additional location and will take possession of the building at 360 S. Main St. on Aug. 1. Fenton operates three stores in Fenton, Waterford and Lapeer, Mich.

On its website, Oscar Rau's said a liquidation and store-closing sale begins March 10.

Ray Rau's father, Oscar Rau, started the business in 1945 selling electronics and appliances. The company later purchased another retailer's stores and added furniture. Rau Rau bought the business in 1972.

"I haven't been involved in the day-to-day operations of the Frankenmuth store for the past three years," he said in a release, adding that he had a capable management team in place. But with no family members involved and "a solid offer for the property on the table," he decided to close.

"Oscar Rau may be closing and vacating a building in Michigan's number one tourist destination, but the good news is that another furniture business will take occupancy, offering quality and service to what was our trading area while expanding theirs," he said.