Art Van remodels 1 store, opens 2 new franchises

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, February 25, 2013

WARREN, Mich. - Art Van Furniture has opened two new franchise stores in Michigan.
     A store has opened on East Pickard Road in Mount Pleasant. Formerly Wendels Home & Design, the store recently outgrew its 35,000-squarefoot location and expanded into a new facility with double its previous showroom space. It will incorporate some of Art Van's specialty departments, including Art Van PureSleep and the Clearance Center.
     Storeowners David Lee and Lisa Lee are second-generation family retailers and have been in business for 40 years.
     In honor of the new opening, the retailer presented a $5,000 check to Michigan Special Olympics, which is based in Mount Pleasant.
     The second new franchise store has opened in Alpena, located on U.S. Highway 23. Bob and Naoko Young and their son Benjamin Young are store owners.
     Art Van presented a $5,000 check to Friends Together, an Alpena-based charity, as part of the day's event.
     The recently remodeled Alpena store features more than 20,000 square feet showcasing Art Van product including Art Van PureSleep and the Clearance Center. The store will continue selling appliances under the Young Appliance name.
     Art Van has also updated a 78,000-square-foot Kalamazoo store on Ring Road in Portage, Mich.
     The two-level store features a redesign and renovation that begins at the store's front entrance and extends to both floors, with updates throughout all of its major departments, including Paul's TV and PureSleep.
     In addition, new signage has been added along with a newly renovated Showroom Youth department.
     Founded in 1959, Art Van Furniture operates 34 stores in Michigan.

	David and Lisa Lee along with Art Van Elslander cut the ribbon on the new Art Van franchise store in Mount Pleasant
Bob and Naoko Young and Art Van Elslander cut the ribbon on the new Art Van franchise store in Alpena
	The staff of the Art Van Kalamazoo store celebrates the recent renovation.