Avon Better Bedding Name Changes to Sleepy's

The sign may read Better Bedding at the mattress chain in Avon, but if you call the store, you'll hear staff say a different name – Sleepy's.

While there is no confirmation at this time when sign will be changed and how many Better Bedding stores will change their names to parent-company Sleepy's, former Better Bedding owner Tom Wholley said he was relieved when he heard this news from customers that noticed the change over the weekend.

"I kind of like that myself because my name was associated with Better Bedding for so many years that in starting Connecticut Mattress there was confusion that the name was associated with Better Bedding and it wasn’t," said Wholley,

Wholley’s father founded Better Bedding company in 1976. The family lost the 21-store chain after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009. Company creditors accepted an offer against the owners’ will to sell it to Sleepy’s in May 2010. The Wholleys walked away from the company they built up in locations across New England.

"They’ve been running Better Bedding and have been using its name under corporate umbrella," Wholley said of Sleepy's.

Since then, Wholley has opened the company, which consists of a two stores, the first opened at the Evergreen Walk in South Windsor in March 2011 and then opened on Jan. 1 this year and is located across the street from Better Bedding.

It is coincidence that Connecticut Mattress is across from the newly named Sleepy's, Wholley said, describing Route 44 as the place to be in Avon. His attention is focused on building up his new mattress business and it has been going well so far, he said. Connecticut Mattress has already embedded itself in the Avon community, recently to for families in need.

Wholley said the name change from Better Bedding to Sleepy's might help eliminate confusion that his family is still associated with Better Bedding. For this reason, he said, "I’m happy that the Better Bedding name will go away."

Sleepy's will not need to apply to the Avon Planning and Zoning Commission to change the sign, according to Town Planner Steven Kushner, however, a building permit will be required to do so.

"In the scheme of things, it's an easy, straight-forward approval process," Kushner said.

The Avon Building Department had not received an application from Sleepy's as of Monday.

Patch contacted Sleepy's corporate office and did not hear back by the time of publication. Updates will be provided as they become available.