By KENDRA SITTON | La Mesa Courier

Mattress Makers in the La Mesa Village is bringing in more customers as lockdown measures in the county ease. Staff are spraying down mattresses with special upholstery disinfectant to keep the store clean between customers and special appointments are available.

The La Mesa store is coming up on its third anniversary on July 1, but Mattress Makers has a long history in San Diego.

Pablo Hernandez, one of the current co-owners, explained that in the 1960s, his grandfather opened up a small mattress factory in Downtown San Diego. His dad took over the factory in 1984 and continues to run it today. The majority of their business was to hotels and other stores.

Despite their growth, they continue to use only natural materials in their mattresses and avoid modern chemicals.

In 2012, Hernandez and his brother opened the company’s first storefront in Miramar to bring natural, affordable mattresses directly to the public. In 2017, the second store was added in La Mesa.

“We saw the La Mesa Village. We just love that area and a spot that opened up. It worked out perfect. We were able to get another location and we love the community,” Hernandez said. “It’s been good since we’ve been in there.”

Like other retailers, the coronavirus caused a major hit for the business. At first, they were available by appointment only but have since opened back up. Immunocompromised and cautious shoppers can still book a one-on-one appointment online for the hour before the store opening and after its closure.

Sales have been slower to return in La Mesa than Miramar, Hernandez said, partially because customers disappeared for a week or two after the riots. At this point, sales are steadily coming back though.

Mattress Makers has a history of giving back to the community and this period has been no exception. When the lockdown began, Hernandez said they brought a few seamstresses into the store to sew masks for the community.

“We made about 5,000 face masks to give out to the community and to the frontline workers. That kept us busy. Even though we’re not making money off it, it kept us busy,” he said.

Currently, Mattress Makers is giving free custom pillows to police officers and other first responders at the La Mesa store.

— Reach contributing editor Kendra Sitton at [email protected].