PITTSBURGH, PA — Two weeks ago Robert Levin and the parent company of Levin Furniture signed a letter of intent which would have allowed Robert Levin, the former president and owner of the Pittsburgh-based Levin Furniture to buy the business as the business was going through Bankruptcy Court restructuring of the parent company Art Van Furniture, LLC.

On Thursday, Levin learned that the parent company decided to close all Levin Furniture and Wolf Furniture stores immediately, to terminate the employees, and not proceed with the terms of the aforementioned agreement.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic and mandatory store closures, the parent company reported large reductions in business.

This led to the decision to not seek approval of the sale to Levin in the Bankruptcy Court.

In response to the news, Levin is establishing a fund of $2 million to provide grants and loans to the employees of the furniture stores to help with their healthcare costs during this time of uncertainty.

He is also speaking with his advisers, and several formal Levin executives, to develop a plan to bring Levin and Wolf back into business.

Lastly, he will be hiring a firm to closely monitor the way the Bankruptcy Court is treating customer deposits that were given to the now bankrupt company.

Levin stated, “I cannot express my disappointment with the way that all of this has unfolded. My heart breaks for all of the loyal employees, many of whom are like family to me, and the customers who were so excited about our shared future together.” He added, “I am committed to trying to build a new Levin and Wolf Furniture This is Levin’s 100th Anniversary. I am working on a plan so that soon there will be something that we can celebrate together.”

ncG1vNJzZmivmpawtcKNnKamZ56axLR7y6iamqRfobK3tc1mna6qnp7Btr7EZpinnF2svK2yjJ%2Bsq6aZqcKzsYyco6irlah6orjLZqqtp6KawA%3D%3D