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Sullivan's Carpet and Furniture closes after 77 years in Grand Rapids

Sullivan's Carpet and Furniture closes after 77 years in Grand Rapids

Money Moves Grand Rapids, MI local

Remaining inventory goes to public online auction after family-owned 28th Street store shuts.

Today: Sullivan's closes after 77 years

Overview

Updated 53 minutes ago

Sullivan's Carpet and Furniture, a 28th Street SE store that operated for 77 years, has closed. Its remaining sofas, carpet rolls and forklifts will be sold at a public online auction.

The closure ends a family-run retail name tied to Bob Sullivan, the former Detroit Tigers scout whose amateur baseball team won four national championships. He died in February at 96.

Why it matters

The closure puts a 77-year-old family retail site and its remaining inventory up for public auction on Grand Rapids' 28th Street corridor.

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Key Indicators

77
Years in business
Sullivan's operated for 77 years before closing in November 2026.
96
Age of longtime owner Bob Sullivan at death
Bob Sullivan died in February 2026.
4
National championships won by Sullivan's amateur baseball team
Bob Sullivan led the Grand Rapids Sullivans from the 1950s to the 1980s.

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People Involved

BS
Bob Sullivan
Longtime owner of Sullivan's Carpet and Furniture
Died in February 2026 at 96

Organizations Involved

SC
Sullivan's Carpet and Furniture
Family-owned retail store
Closed; inventory auction

Grand Rapids furniture and flooring retailer that operated on 28th Street SE for 77 years.

Timeline

1949 November 2026

4 events Latest: Today
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Sullivan's closes after 77 years

    Today Closure

    The 28th Street store shuts; remaining inventory goes to public online auction.

  2. Longtime owner Bob Sullivan dies at 96

    Obituary

    Sullivan had owned and managed the store and the Grand Rapids Sullivans baseball team.

  3. Valley Field renamed Sullivan Field

    Recognition

    Grand Rapids honors owner Bob Sullivan, who led the Grand Rapids Sullivans amateur baseball team.

  4. Sullivan's opens in Grand Rapids

    Origin

    The store begins a 77-year run on 28th Street SE.

Scenarios

1

Auction clears remaining inventory by Nov. 17

Likely Resolves by Nov 18, 2026

Discussed by: Local reporting and the Orbitbid.com auction listing

The public online auction is scheduled to open bidding Nov. 16 and begin closing lots Nov. 17. If it runs as planned, the store's remaining furniture, flooring and equipment will be sold to the public.

2

Former Sullivan's site listed for sale or lease by mid-2027

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Not yet discussed publicly; tracked via property records and commercial listings

The showroom at 1860 28th St. SE could be marketed to a new tenant or buyer. A public listing would signal the next step for the property after the store's closure.

3

New retailer opens at former Sullivan's location by end of 2027

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Not yet discussed publicly; tracked via city permits and local reporting

A new tenant could reuse the showroom space. That would require permits and a public opening at the 28th Street site.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

February-September 2011

Borders Group liquidation (2011)

Borders, the Ann Arbor-based bookseller, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February 2011. When no buyer emerged, the company liquidated and closed its remaining stores by September.

Then

Liquidation sales and auctions dispersed inventory and closed hundreds of stores.

Now

The collapse ended a Michigan-born national retail chain and became a template for later retail liquidations.

Why this matters now

Sullivan's auction follows the same final step: selling remaining inventory after a long-running retailer closes.

October 2018

Sears Holdings bankruptcy (2018)

Sears Holdings filed for Chapter 11 in October 2018 and closed hundreds of stores. The company sold assets and liquidated inventory.

Then

Stores closed and inventory was auctioned.

Now

The bankruptcy reshaped mall retail and showed how liquidation auctions mark the end of legacy chains.

Why this matters now

Sullivan's public auction is a small-scale version of the same process.

1996

Sullivan Field renaming (1996)

Grand Rapids renamed Valley Field as Sullivan Field to honor Bob Sullivan, longtime owner of the Grand Rapids Sullivans amateur baseball team.

Then

The field carried his name.

Now

The honor tied the Sullivan name to local sports as well as retail.

Why this matters now

It shows the family's civic footprint beyond the store that just closed.

Sources

(2)
WZZM 13 Yahoo News