Art Van Elslander, founder of Art Van, dies at age 87

Art Van Elslander, the founder of furniture company Art Van, has died at the age of 87. Van Elslander founded the company in 1959 with his first store at 10 Mile and Gratiot Ave. Now, the company operates more than 100 stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa. "My family is heartbroken by the loss of our father," his son, Gary, said in a release. He is currently the president of Van Elslander Capital. According to the company, Art was the only employee of the store, and he sold Danish and contemporary home furnishings.