Mattress Company Takes Nearly 15,000 SF in Long-Term Deal

HOUSTON-A Houston-based mattress manufacturing company has leased 14,951 sf for a new distribution center at Westpark Business Center, and plans expansion of retail outlets throughout the Houston area as well.

AMS Management LLP, which now owns eight stores once held by American Mattress of Illinois Inc., leased the space at 8786 Westpark Dr. owned by Trammell Crow Co., on a long-term basis. The company plans to move in the first of this month.

"This space was a good fit, and they took it pretty much as is," comments Joe Jameson, with United Equities Inc. in Houston, who represented the tenant in the transaction. Faron Wiley with Trammell Crow's Houston office represented the building owner.

Jameson tells GlobeSt.com that, while there are no immediate expansion plans for the distribution center, if contiguous space becomes available, American Mattress has the option to lease it. The quoted rate for the space is $4 per sf, net, on an annual basis.

The transaction represents American Mattress' first move toward expanding its retail operations throughout the Houston area. The company's Houston retail operation had been struggling until bought out by former Mattress Firm founder and owner Paul Stork, who plans to use the same marketing and sales model that made Mattress Firm a success.

"Ideally, he'd like to do one new store a month, during the next 24 months, in and around the Houston area," says Kristen Hill of United Equities, who, with colleague Tim Sandifer, is handling retail leasing activities for American Mattress.

At this time, she tells GlobeSt.com, there is a deal pending with a Target center on Westheimer Rd., and the company is seeking potential sites in Sugarland and Clear Lake. She adds that the company prefers end cap spaces in Target or Wal-Mart anchored centers, or power centers, measuring approximately 3,000 sf.