America's Thanksgiving Parade® Presented By Art Van Furniture To Feature New Motown Float Commissioned By Retailer

WARREN, Mich., Oct. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Parade goers of all ages lining Woodward Avenue at this year's America's Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Art Van Furniture will definitely be dancing in the street! To celebrate the 55^th anniversary of Art Van Furniture and Motown, the Midwest's No. 1 furniture and mattress retailer commissioned a new Motown float to put fans on cloud nine along the parade route.

The musical float, which celebrates the Motown legacy and Motown Museum, the historic place where the Motown Sound is preserved and protected for generations come, will be unveiled at the Parade Preview Party on October 15 at the Parade Company in Detroit (9500 Mt. Elliott, Studio A).

"Motown is synonymous with Detroit, and this new float is our way of saluting and sharing its 55 year musical legacy with Michigan as well as the entire country," said Art Van Elslander, founder and chairman of Art Van Furniture. "This is a joint anniversary gift for families to enjoy for decades to come."

"For the first time in the history of the Parade Company, this new Motown inspired float will share with local and national audiences how the unmistakable Motown Sound was born in Detroit," said Robin Terry, chairman of the board of trustees of the Motown Museum. "Motown Museum is committed to educating the next generation of creative minds and this float and partnership with Art Van Furniture is a highly-visible platform for us to do that in an exciting way."  

The new, 60 foot long float features a piano, oversized records and toe-tapping Motown tunes to entertain the crowd. Art Van Furniture's "Art Van Wonderland" float, which debuted last year to celebrate its spectacular holiday destinations at its Warren and Grand Rapids flagship stores, will again roll down the parade route.

Art Van Furniture has been an active annual supporter of the parade since Van Elslander wrote a historic check nearly a quarter of a century ago to ensure the parade would continue as an annual tradition in the city of Detroit. The iconic Detroit event has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report Travel as one of the best Thanksgiving parades in the country, and is broadcast to over 140 cities nationwide each year.

For additional information, visit artvan.com.

About Art Van Furniture
Art Van Furniture is the Midwest's largest furniture retailer and America's largest independent furniture retailer. The company operates 37 stores throughout Michigan, six stores in Chicagoland, one store in Toledo, Ohio, one store in Fort Wayne, a full service e-commerce website, plus 38 freestanding Art Van PureSleep bedding stores in Michigan and Ohio. Founded in 1959, the company is family-owned and headquartered in Warren, Michigan. Visit artvan.com for more information.

About Motown Museum
Founded in 1985 by Esther Gordy Edwards, Motown Museum is a 501(c)(3) not for profit, tax-exempt organization in Detroit. The Museum is committed to preserving, protecting and presenting the Motown story through authentic, inspirational and educational experiences.

SOURCE Art Van Furniture

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