Art Van over the years was a staple in the Detroit Metro community (2024)

The Art Van showroom in Royal Oak has been acquired by Loves Furniture.

Art Van Elslander, 78, talks to the Free Press in his office in Warren, Monday, Mar. 2, 2009.

Amanda Miller of Oxford talks with Archie A. Van Elslander at Art Van Furniture grand opening in Auburn Hills on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011.

Art Van Furniture opened its first mall-based store after more than 50 years of selling furniture in Michigan. The store at Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in Auburn Hills is 44,000 square feet that features a new lifestyle center, hosted a party with store officials and furniture manufactures. The grand opening of the store to the public is Saturday with prizes, live entertainment, refreshments, children' cartoon characters and performances from the Detroit Pistons Drumline. Art Van Furniture operates 34 stores in 33 cities throughout Michigan.

Left to right: Duke Fakir (Four Tops), Archie A. Van Elslander, Berry Gordy Jr. and Michael Bolton. A Motown homecoming reception was held at the Roostertail in Detroit on Oct. 21, 2014 in advance of "Motown: The Musical" at the Fisher Theatre.

Archie A. Van Elslander, founder and chairman of Art Van Furniture shakes hands with Detroit Fire Chief Craig Dougherty. Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, rear left, formally accepted Art Van's donations of 150 mattresses for Detroit firefighters Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. The first delivery was made to Engine 50 Ladder 23 on Detroit's east side.

Manny Sciberras, 35, of Howell and Carrie Mouser, 26, hold their 5-month-old baby Aaliyah Sciberras after their wedding at the Warren Art Van store. Call it Royal Wedding Michigan style. Manny Sciberras and Carrie Mouser worked together at Art Van and became friends, fell in love and decided to marry in the Warren Art Van store Sunday. Art Van is launching its wedding registry concept and will give away a wedding dated 11-11-11 as part of a contest to a couple that writes a 400 word essay or 2 minute video that contains a compelling "falling in love" story.

Leaders from Compuware, Habitat for Humaity, Art Van and Morning Side neighborhood leaders welcomed the McQueen family, to their new home in the Morning Side neighborhood of Detroit, for the first time on Thursday, December 20, 2012. The new home came completely furnished by Art Van just in time for the holidays. The McQueen family learned 3 months ago that they were the recipients of the house as part of Compuware Welcome Home Program, along with Habitat for Humanity and Art Van

Orlando McQueen,22, his wife Kyomonique, 21, are happily surprised to see a dishwasher in their new home in the Morning Side neighborhood of Detroit. The house came completely furnished ay Art Van Furniture to be ready for the Holidays. The family was welcomed by a crowd of well wishers on Thursday, December 20, 2012. The McQueen family learned 3 months ago that they were the recipients of the house as part of Compuware Welcome Home Program, along with Habitat for Humanity and Art Van.

Isaiah Cummings, 5, (Cqrhb) plays in the snow with Santa with a brand new sledding saucer that was given to him from Santa a.k.a. Norman Yatooma, a Birmingham attorney, who is delivering furniture from Art Van, toys, clothes and enough rent mortgage money and cash for utilities and groceries through the winter for Cummings and his grandmother Colleen Juarez.. Juarez and her grandson were overwhelmed by the group who delivered the presents and sang Christmas carols in front of their Lake Orion apartment Thursday, December 23, 2010. This family is benefiting through the Yatooma's Foundation For the Kids which benefits children who have lost a parent through tragedy. Isaiah lost his mother last year to illness and he is now being raised by his grandmother who has recently adopted him. This organization is in honor of Yatooma's dad Manuel Yatooma who died tragically in 1993. REGINA H. BOONE/Detroit Free Press

Community Foundation of Greater Flint board trustee Sonya LaGore answers phones accepting donations, during the Flint Water Crisis: 4 Our Families telethon on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at the Art Van Furniture store in Flint Township,Mich. Five television stations with Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores, FlintNOW and Art Van Furniture took part in the all day telethon with the proceeds going to the Flint Child Health and Development Fund. The program is part of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint helps with education, nutrition and medical intervention.

Art Van President Bill Barto poses in the parking structure on Friday, Feb. 27, 1998, which is located under the Art Van Furniture store along Woodward in Royal Oak.

Expanding its store from 17,000 square feet to 57, 000, the Art Van store on Woodward near 13 mile is going up. Undergoing construction next door to the current location, eventually both buildings will be incorporated into one another. With an additional store in the works in Dearborn the total comes to 25 Art Van stores.

Alex Golson, 70, of Detroit inspects a Mesquite Ladder Back chair at Art Van Furniture store in Warren, Mich. on April 28, 2010. Customers are starting to buy big ticket furniture items, like couches, beds, refrigerators. Reports show orders for durable goods expected to last at least three years, such as refrigerators, washing machines and the like, are on the rise.

The Art Van Automated Warehouse Storage is 105 ft high, 52,800 sq. ft that holds 10,000 pallets, four retrieval systems in four aisles and is able to handle 100 picks for the store an hour, photographed on Tuesday, May 02, 2006.

Archie A. Van Elslander with Sarah Cuyler of Bloomfield Hills at the 2012 North American International Auto Show Charity preview Gala at Cobo Center on Friday, Jan. 13, 2012

The Art Van group presents a check for One hundred thousand dollars to Mitch Albom at the Shinola Hotel prior to the new Eat Detroit event in downtown and Midtown Detroit on June 19. 2019.

Recently, Mama Tu-Tu won a $1,000 gift card to spend at Art Van as part of the furniture store chain's program to honor 77 unsung heros, one for each of its 77 stores. Her choice: the biggest dining table she could find so her guests would have a place to sit while eating. Mama Tu-Tu tidies up the table Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019.

Kim Yost, CEO of Art Van Furnuture, Beth Chappell, President, Detroit Economic Club, Archie A. Van Elslander, William Jones, Focus Hope CEO and Janet Josaitis, daughter of Eleanor. Art Van Furniture Founder and CEO Art Van Elslander presents a $1 million dollar check to current Focus Hope CEO William Jones before holding a tribute dinner for Focus Hope Founder Eleanor M. Josaitis at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center in Detroit.

Archie A. Van Elslander in his office in Sterling Heights on Monday, Dec. 11, 2006.

Archie A. Van Elslander, left, talks with Bill Bonds at his furniture stores 50 year celebration with a cirque performance, live band and a visit from former supermodel Cindy Crawford. Proceeds from the event go to charity. Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009.

Left to right, Berry Gordy Jr., Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan andArchie A. Van Elslander A Motown homecoming reception was held at the Roostertail in Detroit on Oct. 21, 2014 in advance of "Motown: The Musical" at the Fisher Theatre.

Bill Bartow, president of is introducing its first line of Art Van only furniture, The new line is meant to compete with trendy pieces from Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn and IKEA, photographed at the Art Van store on 14 mile and Warren avenue.

People walk into the Art Van Furniture store on Friday, Feb. 27, 1998, In Royal Oak. The store is on stilts, above the parking lot. Art Van has 26 stores- all located in Michigan.

The new kids castle nearing completion inside the Art Van store on 14 mile road in Warren will give parents the opportunity to drop off their kids while they shop for furniture. The castle that is full of activities including a small theatre is scheduled to be completed in about a week.

Art Van Furniture hosted a benefit for The Parade Company. Carl Allison of Detroit , a volunteer for the Parade Company, and American Actor Jeff Daniels, right, chat during the Patron Preview with special guest Jeff Daniels.

Ken, 52, and Gary, 56, Van Elslander, right, of Art Van Furniture is photographed on Tuesday, May 02, 2006.

A cute couch for $599.99 is for sale at the Art Van Furniture clearance center in Warren, Mich. It's by Alan White furniture company. Not top quality by any means, but it's still cute.

The Grand Shores collection, one of the two new collections for sale at Art Van Furniture in Warren, Mich. photographed on July 10, 2007.

Images shows activity from the Detroit Design Festival in 2015 when the Eastern Market After Dark event included artists painting couches donated by Art Van stores with the finished designed auctioned for charity.

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, Art Van Eslander, and the Parade Company's Tony Michaels (right) announced that the Parade Co.'s annual Thanksgiving Day parade will begin in Midtown Detroit at the corner of Warren and Woodward Ave, during a news conference on Thurs., Oct. 3, 2013. The 87th annual America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Sponsor Art Van Furniture is scheduled to begin at 8:45 a.m. Nov. 26th.

Archie A. Van Elslander in the 2012 edition of America's Thanksgiving Parade.

Members of the Rosie the Riveter group from the Yankee Air Museum sing "God Bless America" as they march down Woodward Avenue during the America's Thanksgiving Parade presented by Art Van in Detroit on Thursday, November 28, 2019.

Runners head North on Woodward Avenue during the annual Turkey Trot. The 10K race started at 7:30 and is always held before the start of America's Thanksgiving Parade presented by Art Van in Detroit on Thursday, November 28, 2019.

Gary and David Van Elslander of Art Van Furniture wave at the crowd during the 92nd America's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018.

A bundled up crowd watches the 91st America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Art Van on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017.

Clowns get photographed in front of the Detroit Institute of Arts before the 91st America’s Thanksgiving Parade, presented by Art Van on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017.

Gary and David Van Elslander wave to the crowd during the 91th America’s Thanksgiving Parade, presented by Art Van on Woodward Avenue on Thursday, November 23, 2017.

Co-grand marshal singer Big Sean and his mother Myra Anderson wave at the crowd during the 91st America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Art Van on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017.

Students from Dance Dynamics Performance Arts Center in Walled lake try to stay warm by holding each other before the 91st America’s Thanksgiving Parade, presented by Art Van on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017.

A sea of runners await the start of the S3 Turkey Trot 5K before America's Thanksgiving Parade presented by Art Van on Woodward Avenue in Detroit on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015.

The Detroit Public Schools All City High School Marching Band gets ready to march in America's Thanksgiving Parade presented by Art Van to start in Detroit on Thursday, November 26, 2015.

A Big Head character shakes hands with kids as they walk along Woodward during the Thanksgiving Parade presented by Art Van on Woodward Avenue in Detroit on Thursday November 26, 2015.

View from the People Mover during the Thanksgiving Parade presented by Art Van on Woodward Avenue in Detroit on Thursday November 26, 2015.

Rendering of an Art Van concept the furniture store is opening in Canton.

Kim Yost, the president and CEO of Art Van Furniture talks about the future of the company and how his career lead him to sell furniture on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017 at the Art Van headquarters in Warren, Mich.

Kim Yost, the president and CEO of Art Van Furniture, talks about the future of the company on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017 at the Art Van headquarters in Warren.

Kim Yost, the president and CEO of Art Van Furniture, talks about the future of the company and the importance of innovation at the Art Van headquarters in Warren on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017.

The French chateau on Lakeshore Drive in Grosse Pointe Shores owned by Art Van Elslander is on the market for $15.9 million dollars. It is the most expensive home for sale in the State of Michigan.

The grand staircase in the main entrance of Archie A. Van Elslander's French Chateau style estate was built in 1991 in Grosse Pointe Shores, Mich. The chateau is on the market and currently listed for 15.9 million, making it the most expensive real estate property in Michigan.The estate sits on 3.75 manicured acres with 28,000 square feet of living space, counting the lower level entertainment area. The rooms are large with high ceilings. The great room boasts 32 foot high ceilings and a giant window almost the same height . There are spectacular views of Lake St. Clair from most of the rooms. Craftsmanship of the highest quality and murals through out.

The great room with 32 foot high ceilings and floor to ceiling window with view to Lake St. Clair at Art Van Elslander's French Chateau style estate built in 1991 in Grosse Pointe Shores.

Art Van in Warren is seen on Monday February 12, 2018 after a press conference about Art Van founder Art Van Elslander who passed away at 87 years-old.

Art Van is making over its clearance centers inside 40 of its furniture stores and turning them into outlets like the prototype at its Warren store, 6500 14 Mile.

David Van Elslander was promoted to senior vice president of Art Van Furniture and president of Art Van PureSleep.

Mario Herdell, 39 of Rochester inspects a mattress with his daughter Lauren Herdell, 3, while salesman, John Curtis looks on at Art Van Pure Sleep store in Rochester on Thursday, July 15, 2010. Herdell was shopping for a mattress for his children. Art Van Furniture is doing well and growing despite the tough economy by taking a number of different steps to keep business strong. It's been opening a few stores.This store debuted in June.

The Art Van furniture store in Warren.

A pine (in shell finish) Craft Table and Four Stools ($699.99) with Moveable Bookcase ($269.99) is available at the Art Van Warehouse Showroom and Clearance Center in Warren on Monday, June 9, 2008.

Art Van in Warren is seen on Monday, Feb. 12, 2018, after a press conference about Art Van founder Art Van Elslander who passed away at 87 years-old.

Archie A. Van President and CEO Kim Yost speaks about Art Van founder Art Van Elslander, who passed away at 87 years old, during a press conference on Monday, February 12, 2018 at Art Van in Warren, Mich. alongside Vice President of Corporate Communications and Community Relations Diane Charles.

Art Van President and CEO Kim Yost speaks about Art Van founder Art Van Elslander passing away at 87 years old during a press conference on Monday, February 12, 2018 at Art Van furniture store in Warren. Mich.

Archie A. Van Elslander has made a donation to support the creation of an endowment called the Shukri W. David, M.D. Art Van Elslander Endowed Chair for Cardiovascular Services for Providence Hospitals.

Art Van in Warren.Mich. is seen on Monday February 12, 2018 after a press conference about Art Van founder Art Van Elslander passing away at 87 years old.

Art Van Furniture & Outlet in Genoa Township, shown Monday, Aug. 26, 2019, is one of five Art Van properties for sale for $56.55 million under a master lease.

The former Art Van building sits vacant Wednesday, August 26, 2015 in downtown Port Huron.