About Us

The Vintage Mattress Co Story

In 2012, Amy and Larry were in desperate need of a new mattress. They were excited that their local mattress retailer had a really wide range of mattresses available. In the showroom it seemed they could find multiple mattresses that were comfortable so they bought one. Within a month the single sided foam top spring mattress was starting to sag and Larry could literally feel the springs in his back. After multiple failed attempts, and a lot of money spent on the returning of various mattresses, they did not want to go through the whole arduous process of buying from a brick and mortar again. So they decided to buy a bed in a box. Neither Amy nor Larry were very happy with the memory foam mattress but it was flat and there were no springs in their backs. Amy was particularly frustrated since she was waking up very stiff and hurting every morning. However, this was something that seemed to be the same on all of the previous mattresses as well. The last mattress she remembered sleeping well on was the two sided mattress that she had years before.

In 2013, Amy and Larry were staying at a friend’s house in Illinois and they had 2 master bedrooms. The wife graciously gave them her master suite for the week. When they climbed into bed, Amy commented “This is a Nice mattress!!” When she woke up the next morning she couldn’t believe that she wasn’t in pain. This became a topic at the breakfast table that morning and her friend thought she may be able to find the receipt to figure where it was from. Come to find out the mattress that Amy was sleeping on was a 11 ½ year old flippable mattress! By the 4^th night good rest without waking up in pain Amy had to get one of these mattresses. Her friend knew where she had originally purchased it and they went to the furniture store to get one to bring home. Unfortunately, that mattress was no longer available and the furniture store did not have any flippable mattresses only one sided mattresses. After seeing Amy’s disappointment, her friend said “Don’t worry Amy, I’m ready for a new mattress anyway. I have had that one for a long time. Plus, I sleep great on anything.” Needless to say, Amy and Larry were both thankful and thrilled to take their new (old) mattress home.

Before they left for Florida, their friend reminded them “You know that the only way to keep it flat and so comfortable is to flip it every few months. That’s the secret!”

What Amy and Larry didn’t realize was the mattress had severe smoke damage to it from being in a heavy smoker’s home for so many years. Quick to rectify the blemish to their new found treasure, they purchased a high quality mattress protector that sealed with a tight zipper. When that didn’t work they double bagged it and finally after the third mattress protector still seeped smoke they regrettably donated it to a smoky home.

Amy then went on a search for this illusive mattress that she loved. After months of searching the internet and calling of multiple mattress and furniture stores, all the way up to North Carolina, she finally was able to share her story with someone at a small family owned mattress company. He actually not only remembered that particular mattress but, since it was discontinued, he told her that they could build her one just like it! She was overjoyed. When she asked why she was unable to find a similar flippable mattress anywhere she was told that the mattress industry had gone in a different direction to single sided mattresses. He did explain that shipping was going to be expensive and that their company did not have any distributors south of North Carolina where we could pick up the mattress from. Without hesitation Amy said “I don’t care what it costs, we need that mattress!” The new double sided mattress arrived at her doorstep less than a week later.

In 2019, Amy and Larry built a new house and chose to keep their old place. Their 6 year old mattress was as perfect as the first night they slept on it so they decided to leave it in the rental and treat themselves to a new mattress. Since the shipping was expensive Amy and Larry started asking friends and family if they needed a new mattress to split this cost of shipping. When Amy and Larry heard all the same complaints they had and the horror stories of the many not so old mattresses being completely worn out with heavy body impressions in less than 3 years. They knew that clearly there was a problem with the mattress industry! They filled an entire truck load with the same mattress that they had. Within a few days of receiving their new mattresses, everyone was texting and calling to let them know how great they were sleeping and were loving the mattress. Amy and Larry were very happy about not only getting their friends and family very comfortable mattresses but that they would really last, as long as flipped, and remain flat for the duration of its long life.

Amy was so appalled by what she was realizing was an epidemic of single sided, non flippable synthetic foam mattresses not holding up that she started doing research on these mattresses. This research confirmed what she suspected but also revealed the terrible chemicals used unknowingly, to the consumer, in the majority of non flippable mattresses. She immediately contacted the manufacturer to ask regarding the mattresses she purchased and verified that they do not use any harmful or carcinogenic chemicals in any of their mandatory fire retardant layer or the mattresses itself. He told her that he uses a more expensive carcinogenic free polyester/ rayon shield layer and he does not believe that mattresses should be made any other way. Amy saw a huge need for quality, comfortable, long lasting and non-carcinogenic flippable mattresses. Thus began the concept to start Vintage Mattress Co.

At no point did either Amy or Larry intend on starting a new business but they once again found themselves in a business they had inadvertently created. Larry and Amy’s passion for aviation led them to become world leaders in the Manufacturing of Light Sport Aircraft which was also an unplanned entry 20 years ago. This has been something very special they get to share with the world. And so it would seem the cycle continues…