Sleep Train is the largest mattress retailer on the West Coast. It was founded by Dale Carlsen in June 1985. Sleep Train stores carry mattresses manufactured by Beautyrest, Sealy Mattress Company, Posturepedic, Tempur-Pedic, Stearns & Foster, and Serta (company) iComfort. Sleep Train also carries headboards by Fashion Bed Group and Modus International, as well as a variety of bedding accessories includingProtect-A-Bed. The company is based in Rocklin, California and has more than 100 locations throughout California.

Sleep Train was founded by Dale Carlsen in 1985, shortly after graduating from California State University at Sacramento. He opened the first Sleep Train store on Folsom Boulevard in Sacramento, California.Within eight months, he added a second store in Citrus Heights, California. Prior to starting Sleep Train, Carlsen worked as a salesperson for local mattress manufacturer, Lady Americana.

In October 2010, Sleep Train became one of few companies nationwide to implement an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).The plan allows all qualified employees to benefit from the company’s growth and prosperity by obtaining shares of the company at no cost to them. The ESOP plan is in addition to the company’s existing 401k plan. ESOP’s are established to inspire a sense of ownership in the company within employees, enabling them to strive for a common goal of success, which in turn benefits them upon retirement. Sleep Train employees currently own more than 25% of the company.

In September 2011, Sleep Train acquired Christian’s Mattress Xpress, converting three stores into new Sleep Train stores in Visalia, Fresno and Fowler.The following month, October 2011, Sleep Train purchased Mattress Outlet, a 14-store company with 13 stores in eastern Washington and one in Idaho, and America’s Mattress, a seven-store company in western Washington. In October 2012, Sleep Train acquired Sleep City, an 8-store chain in Eastern Washington and Idaho.