Sleepy’s The Mattress Professionals

Sleepy's The Mattress Professionals built its reputation as a major mattress retailer in the United States, particularly known for its strong presence in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. The company’s story began in 1931, when Louis Acker opened Bedding Discount Centers in Brooklyn, New York. The Sleepy's name was introduced in 1975 under the leadership of his son, Harry Acker, and the brand steadily expanded its reach. By the late 1990s, Sleepy's operated around 90 stores, and its growth accelerated through the acquisition of other regional mattress chains.

Over the next two decades, Sleepy's became a familiar anchor in shopping centers, with a footprint that extended across 17 states. As of December 2015, the company operated 1,050 stores, making it one of the largest specialty mattress retailers in the country. This scale was achieved through a mix of organic growth and strategic acquisitions, which helped Sleepy's secure a dominant position in the bedding category.

A significant milestone came in December 2015, when Sleepy's was acquired by Mattress Firm, a national competitor based in Houston. Following the acquisition, Mattress Firm took over all real estate and store operations, rebranding most Sleepy's locations under its own name. Since then, Sleepy's has shifted from a retail chain to a private-label mattress brand, now sold exclusively through Mattress Firm’s stores and online channels. The original Sleepy's retail chain and its real estate portfolio have been fully integrated into Mattress Firm’s national network.

For commercial real estate professionals, Sleepy's legacy is notable for its history of rapid expansion and preference for visible, high-traffic retail sites. Today, while the Sleepy's name no longer appears on storefronts, it continues as a product line within Mattress Firm’s broader offering, reflecting the brand’s evolution from a regional retailer to a lasting presence in the national bedding market.