DELAWARE, USA — A federal judge has cleared the way for the former owner of Levin Furniture to buy back the company and its assets, including several stores in Northeast Ohio.
On Wednesday, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Sontchi approved Robert Levin's plan to revitalize his family's furniture brand. According to NBC affiliate WPIX in Pittsburgh, Levin announced last week that he reached a $25.7 million deal to buy back Levin Furniture out of bankruptcy months after a previous deal to save his company fell through.
In March, Levin announced that he was coming out of retirement to acquire the Ohio and Pennsylvania assets of Levin Furniture and Wolf Furniture through a court restructuring of the parent company Art Van Furniture, LLC. However, that deal fell apart when Art Van Furniture -- citing the COVID-19 pandemic -- closed its doors and terminated all employees across the entire company.
"I'm coming back as the owner of Levin Furniture for the employees who were at risk of losing their jobs," Levin said in the March statement announcing his return. "They are the most loyal, dedicated, and hardworking people I've ever known. It will be a privilege and honor to once again lead this company as we prepare to celebrate 100 years in the furniture and mattress business."
Court records show the approved bid includes a $10 million fund that will be set aside to compensate more than 1,000 customers in Ohio and Pennsylvania who paid for or made deposits on furniture that Art Van’s owners never delivered.
Information will be posted on the company’s website about how customers can get restitution. Details on which locations will be reopening and the timing will be announced at a later date.
Levin Furniture was founded in 1920 in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania by Robert Levin's grandparents. It has several Northeast Ohio locations, including Avon, Akron, North Olmsted, Mentor, Middleburg Heights, and North Canton.
The company will celebrate its 100th anniversary later this year.
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