WICHITA — Wichita-based Mattress Hub is continuing its aggressive expansion across the region with several new stores and several more in the works.
“It’s just because we’re crazy, I guess,” says Mark Barrientos, who is partners in the business with Ryan Baty.
Friday, they opened a new 7,000-square-foot store at 611 S. Dugan, which is what Barrientos calls Mattress Mile because of all the mattress competition along there.
“We had a great grand opening response,” he says.
Then it was on to Stillwater, Okla., where a Mattress Hub opened Tuesday.
Next is the Mattress Hub Clearance Center, which will open next month at the Plaza West shopping center at Central and West. That’s where Wal-Mart is building one of its Neighborhood Markets.
Barrientos says the 4,000-square-foot clearance center makes sense because of the company’s 12-month comfort guarantee, which allows customers to return mattresses for up to a year. The store mostly will be stocked with those returns.
In early July, Mattress Hubs will open in Dodge City and Topeka, which will make 14 stores for the 3½-year-old company.
“Yeah, it’s pretty good growth,” Barrientos says.
There also are two more Oklahoma stores coming along with a multistore deal in Kansas City.
“Look for some really big news up in the Kansas City area,” Barrientos says. “A market that big, you definitely can’t open just one.”
He says staff and vendor support help him open so many stores.
“Serta has really stepped up to the plate and helped us a whole lot.”
Barrientos expects 20 stores by the end of this year and 28 by the end of 2012.
A replacement Mattress Hub in Joplin, Mo., likely will be among the new stores.
The existing store there was destroyed in Sunday’s tornado.
“It was a total loss,” Barrientos says.
He says the roof was peeled away, windows shattered and all the inventory ruined.
“All the tangible stuff can be replaced,” Barrientos says.
He’s not sure what will happen there since he doesn’t own the building.
Barrientos says everyone at the store is OK.
“It could definitely be worse.”
