Robert Levin is stunned by the reception his reconstituted family-owned furniture chain received since reopening 19 stores in Pennsylvania and Ohio two months ago.

Levin, who sold the chain to Michigan-based Art Van Furniture in 2017, came out of retirement this year to rescue the business from bankruptcy.

Now, he and his new partners, Matt and John Schultz, are making good on Levin’s promise to make customers shorted in the bankruptcy whole, rehiring former employees and celebrating the 100th anniversary of the chain Sam Levin founded in Mt. Pleasant.

“I’ll be thinking of my grandparents, parents and brother who founded and grew the company on the belief that, if you treated customers right, like your own family, they would come back again and again,” Levin said.

He said the 19 stores, including nine Levin Furniture Stores, nine Levin Mattress Stores and an outlet store in Niles, Ohio, will offer a variety of specials to celebrate the chain’s centennial.

Meanwhile, the partners are working through the claims of customers who put down deposits or paid for furniture that was never delivered when Art Van went into Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings.

Levin said he is committed to settling claims from anyone who made a purchase from a Levin’s store and was left hanging by the bankruptcy. He has extended that offer to those who dealt with Levin stores he was unable to reacquire, including the flagship store in Mt. Pleasant.

“We didn’t have to do that, but I want to do it,” Levin said.

Experts said his deal to set aside $10 million to settle customer claims was virtually unheard of in financial circles.

Lisa Lash, director of customer service for Levin’s, said her staff worked through more than 1,800 customer claims thus far and has another 900 “somewhere in process.”

Although the original deadline for customers to file claims was Aug. 10, Lash said the chain is still accepting them and will continue to do so as long as the bankruptcy trustee allows them.

Customers seeking to file claims can obtain forms at deposits@levinfurniture.com or by mailing LevinFurniture/Promise, 301 Fitzhenry Road, Smithton, PA 15479.

Customers were given the option of reinstating their original orders, accepting a merchandise credit or getting a cash refund. Those who received refunds from their credit card companies can apply for discount coupons.

Lash said only 145 settlements processed thus far requested a refund.

Levin said he’s thrilled that customers are giving the company a second chance.

Lash, who worked for Levin for 30 years and continued working there under the Art Van banner, is among 525 former employees who have been rehired.

Rescuing a business out of bankruptcy and reopening during a global pandemic might have raised an eyebrow or two, but Levin said it appears to be working.

The biggest obstacle they have faced to date is that factories that closed during the pandemic shutdown still are working through back orders. Delivery has been slow, but customers have been patient.

“It was a long shot but, so far, it has been very, very rewarding,” Levin said.

He said company records show sales have outstripped prior year sales for 71 of the 74 days the stores have been open.

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