NORWALK, Ohio -- The Norwalk Furniture factory is still idle after the plant suddenly closed its doors on Friday, putting more than 500 people out of work.

The company said the shutdown is temporary, and the company's chairman spoke Wednesday about the closure and possible solutions to get the family-owned business up and running again, reported NewsChannel5's Tracy Carloss.

Workers gathered at the Norwalk High School auditorium to learn information about the future on the company.

The company said a suffering economy is part of the problem. Norwalk Furniture lost $8 million in sales in one year.

"We're continuing to talk to a lot of people. People are interested in the community and have come forward around the state and country, hopeful to correct this and get everyone back to work," said Chairman Jim Gerken.

The company's bank has cut off its line of credit, but Gerken said he will continue to fight for the business that his great grandfather started more than 100 years ago.

"I grew up in Norwalk and I have a lot of friends who depend on us," Gerken said. "It's tough to be in a situation where we can't provide food and shelter for people in the community, so we're working hard to get there."

This affects more than the employees in Norwalk; the company nationwide, including their retail stores, has about 2,000 workers.

Sen. Sherrod Brown released a statement Wednesday saying he is working with the company and city officials to keep the company afloat.