By Nathan Duke
Once a major borough success story, Long Island City’s 1-800 Mattress has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, according to papers filed with the federal bankruptcy court.
Dial-a-Mattress Operating Corporation, which operates 1-800 Mattress, filed for bankruptcy on March 17. The company, which has its headquarters in Long Island City, was founded more than 30 years ago in Jamaica by Ecuadorian native Napoleon Barragan. On March 23, Dial-a-Mattress International Ltd. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to papers filed with the federal bankruptcy court.
Barragan was born the son of a farmer in Ecuador, but left for Colombia in his early 20s to teach. In 1969, he moved with his family to the United States to work factory jobs and, six years later, opened a small furniture store in Jamaica that would later become 1-800 Mattress.
Tragedy struck the company in 2006 when Barragan’s son, Luis Barragan, who acted as president and chief operating officer for the company, died in a swimming accident.
1-800 Mattress employs more than 350 city residents and has more than 100 locations in New York, New Jersey, California, Connecticut and Maryland.
Company representatives could not be reached for comment.
Reach reporter Nathan Duke by nduke@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
