Gallery Furniture

Gallery Furniture and its founder, Jim "Mattress Mac" McIngvale, have become something of a Houston institution. McIngvale's animated TV ads, promise they "really will save you money." With two locations, the firm has evolved into a leading regional furniture retailer, accounting for about 20% of Houston's market share. Gallery Furniture also ranks as one of the nation's top sellers in terms of sales per square foot. In addition to mattresses (Simmons Beautyrest and Tempur-Pedic brands), it sells bedroom, dining room, home office, and living room furniture. The firm was founded in 1981. A fire in May 2009 destroyed its 100,000-sq.-ft. warehouse and damaged its North Freeway showroom.