Barragan remembers good times
It was not an easy interview for either of us, but it was far harder for my subject, Napoleon Barragan.
How, I asked him, was he coping with yet another death in his family and his business challenges? “To deal with the future,” he said, “you have to remember the past.”
There have been some good times to remember, Barragan said. He recalled special family times and a long run in the mattress business that took him to heights few retailers have reached.
But there have been untimely deaths and business missteps, too.
I can’t think of anyone who has faced more personal tragedy in his life. First his daughter died, and then his son, Luis, his
heir apparent, in a swimming accident. And then a few months ago his wife was killed by their troubled, ill son, police said.
While that tragedy was playing out, the company he had built for more than three decades, 1800mattress.com, was in Chapter 11 protection. It was recently purchased by Sleepy’s, giving Nap a new boss.
Barragan occasionally struggled with his emotions as he talked about the challenges he has faced. Sometimes, he said, you
can’t fight the pain. But he seeks refuge from it by appreciating the blessings that are still his to claim.
We talked for more than 30 minutes and then I felt I was encroaching on his time. So I thanked Napoleon Barragan for looking back at his life, and I wished him much success in the days and years to come.
Lisa S. commented:
I have no need to hide behind an alias. I wish Mr. Barragan the best in the future. He has always been a well known personality of our industry. He will stay in my prayers for quite some time. I hope he can find peace in his new work.
mattressqueen commented:
Judge not, lest ye be judged. It's always easy to be the critic, especially when you're an employee. I hope "mattress tester" will go out and start his own business and test his own mettle. There is no way to know the suffering Mr. Barragan has done on behalf of his employees. Before it's all over, the Wall St tycoons and their greedy ways may put us all out of business. I don't know you Mr. Barragan, but good luck in your every endeavor. At least you've had the guts to go out try.
Mattress Man commented:
Accolades for Berrigan! Hope he gets his life bacxk together and gets rid of the "Mattress Tester" who seems to work for his firm.
Bedding Rep commented:
I wonder...I have heard that Berrigan is out of 800 Mattress and wound up with nothing but heartache after all these years. He was an innovator and shame on "mattress tester."
a casual observor commented:
Shame on "mattress tester" for his thoughtless and ignorant comments. Good luck in the job market. You will need it.
A NY Mattress guy too commented:
While Nap may not have been the most savvy of businessmen, he was and is an innovator. He is a man with integrity who started with little money and education and built a huge business and changed our industry. His mistakes were no different than others, but he made them in an economy that would not forgive them. A good deal of his life events have been painful, I hope his successes give him some comfort.
mattress tester commented:
You know what, he did this to himself, so I don't feel sorry for him. You reap what you sow. Thanks Napoleon! Perhaps you can share some of your new salary with those of us who will be put out of work due to your stupidity.
