In this
1959 photo, Art Van Elslander (far
right) is joined by partners (from
left) Don Fox, Bob McEachin and
brother Bob Van Elslander. (Courtesy
of Art Van Furniture)
Archie
(Art) Van
Elslander,
founder
of
furniture
chain,
dies at
87
By
HB
Meeks/Tell
Us USA
WARREN,
MI -
Archie
Van
Elslander,
the
founder
of Art
Van
Furniture
and a
major
Detroit-area
philanthropist,
has
died. He
was 87.
A
statement
released
by his
family
says Van
Elslander,
who was
known as
Art Van,
died
Monday.
Company
spokeswoman
Diane
Charles
says he
had
cancer.
“My
family
is
heartbroken
by the
loss of
our
father,”
said
Gary Van
Elslander,
President
of Van
Elslander
Capital,
and Mr.
Van
Elslander’s
eldest
son.
Van
Elslander
opened
his
first
furniture
store in
1959 in
East
Detroit,
now
called
Eastpointe.
There
are more
than 120
Art Van
stores
in the
Midwest,
although
most are
in
Michigan.
“Tony
Michaels,
President
& CEO,
The
Parade
Company
said,
"We are
deeply
saddened
by the
passing
of Art
Van
Elslander.
He was
larger
than
life in
everything
he
touched
and we
are
incredibly
fortunate
to have
had him
as a
close
friend,
supporter
and part
of The
Parade
Company
family
for 30
years."
Detroit
mayor
Mike
Duggan
said,
"The
City of
Detroit
lost one
of its
greatest
supporters
and
philanthropists.
Detroit
always
has been
his
heart.
There
will
never be
another
"Art
Van." He
will be
terribly
missed
and
fondly
remembered."
The
business
was sold
last
year to
Thomas
H. Lee
Partners,
a Boston
private
equity
firm.
Van
Elslander
is
credited
with
saving
Detroit’s
Thanksgiving
parade.
In
December,
he said
he was
donating
$20
million
to
expand
the
Solanus
Casey
Center
in
Detroit,
named
for a
Roman
Catholic
priest
who is
on a
path to
sainthood.
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