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Art Van Furniture has announced it is shutting down and will begin a liquidation sale March 6, according to the Detroit Free Press.(Photo: Brian Wells/Times Herald)

Art Van Furniture has announced it is shutting down and will begin a liquidation sale March 6 at all of its company-owned stores in Michigan, Illinois, Missouri and Ohio.

The company has 141 stores in the U.S., including one in Port Huron Township, according to its website.

Port Huron Township DDA Director Paul Maxwell said Thursday morning he had not heard anything official from the company on its closing.

"I've been concerned about them for some time," Maxwell said.

He doesn't know how many employees are at the store on 32nd Street, but said the facility does a lot of shipping and receiving for other locations as well as retail.

Two calls and an email toDiane Charles, Art Van Furniture spokeswoman,were not immediately returned Thursday.

"Despite our best efforts to remain open, the company's brands and operating performance have been hit hard by a challenging retail environment," Charles saidin a statement.

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Art Van is expected to declare bankruptcy early next week.The Chapter 11 reorganization filingcould potentially result in the permanent closure and liquidation of all Art Van Furniturestoresunless one or more buyers step forward to rescue the retailer.

The company was sold to a private-equity firm by theVan Elslanderfamilythree years ago.

Maxwell said he hopes the township stores remains in operation.

"I think its important because it's part of our business corridor. They've always done a good job," Maxwell said. "Theyve been a good neighbor and we've enjoyed their progress out there. Im hoping it will continue, even if its under another banner."

The liquidation sales will begin Friday at all Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana and Missouri Art Van Furniture, Art Van PureSleep and Scott Shuptrine Interiors, as well asselect Wolf stores in Maryland and Virginia.

The 75,000-square-foot Port Huron Township store opened in 2002 afterArt Van movedout of its downtown Port Huron location.

St. Clair County bought the former Art Van site on Grand River Avenuein 2014 for $560,000. Officials have yet to decide the location's fate.

Check back for updates.

Contact Liz Shepard at (810) 989-6273 or lshepard@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @lvshepard.

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Art Van announces liquidation sale, expected to declare bankruptcy - The Times Herald