Bigger is better for this furniture retailer

Warren, Mich. -- At least one retailer is bucking the current smaller store trend by opening its biggest location to date.



Art Van Furniture will open a two-story, 112,000-sq.-ft. store showroom in Downers Grove, Ill., on July 30. It will not only be the largest Art Van Furniture store among the company's 90 Midwest locations, but also and the largest furniture store in Chicagoland.



“I told my team that if I were a younger man, I would be running this store," said Art Van Elslander, founder and chairman of Art Van Furniture. "Downers Grove will be Art Van Furniture's crown jewel in Chicagoland and the Midwest, and we are planning the hottest, most talked about event of the year to celebrate the grand opening."



Recording artist Jennifer Hudson will appear at the opening gala, along with Hilary Farr, internationally renowned interior designer and star of HGTV's "Love It or List It", and Nigel Barker, internationally renowned fashion photographer.