Blizzard drops free furniture on lucky shoppers

For about 3,000 people, the Midwest’s Super Bowl Sunday blizzard also comes with a full refund on the price of their furniture.

Customers who purchased furniture and mattresses at Art Van Furniture Inc. stores in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio during the retailer’s “Let It Snow” promotion last month are eligible for a full refund — including purchase price, tax and delivery fees — since more than 3 inches of snow fell at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on Super Sunday.

Warren, Michigan-based Art Van, which took out an insurance policy for its promotion from Lloyd's of London, is now preparing to return $2.4 million to customers, according to media reports.

A spokeswoman for the retailer told the Chicago Tribune that the company will wait for “official certification on snow totals” before confirming customer refunds, which will likely be processed in March.

As of Monday morning, 19.3 inches of snow had fallen at O’Hare, according to The Weather Channel.