The year was 1985, the first version of Windows was released, “We are the World” was a pop sensation, the average home cost was $89,330, a gallon of gas cost $1.09, and legwarmers and stonewash jeans were all the rage. And, in Sacramento, a young man named Dale Carlsen opened the first Sleep Train Mattress Center, now the number one bedding specialist on the west coast and number four nationwide.

Beginning his career as a salesperson for local mattress manufacturer Lady Americana, Carlsen’s experience inspired him to forego a traditional job path to pursue entrepreneurship and found Sleep Train, the top locally-owned retailer of quality sleep products that emphasizes superior customer service, the lowest price – guaranteed, and a sustained commitment to its community. Sleep Train’s first store was located on Folsom Boulevard in Sacramento, and Carlsen added a second store in Citrus Heights within eight months.

In December 2002, Sleep Train, Inc. acquired Mattress Discounters and in August 2006 added the Northwest’s largest bedding specialist, Sleep Country USA, becoming the biggest bedding specialist on the west coast with more than 229 stores, located from Bellingham, Washington to San Diego, California. Starting with just two mattress lines, Sleep Train has grown to carry the industry’s top brands, including Simmons, Sealy, Beautyrest, Posturepedic, Tempur-Pedic, Stearns & Foster, and The Vera Wang Organic Collection by Serta.

“The success of our company is due to the great people I am blessed to work with each day,” said Sleep Train founder and CEO Dale Carlsen. “My father’s advice, when I started, was to surround myself with great people, treat them right and make everyone successful. We now have over 1,100 employees who are dedicated and skilled at providing the best customer experience possible. We have also surrounded ourselves with great manufacturers, media partners and personalities.”

Sleep Train is celebrating 25 years in business with luau-themed picnics for employees, prominence of its 25-years during its annual golf charity event for Foster Kids and a special thank you anniversary event in its stores for customers, which will offer discounts of up to 40% off Posturepedic and Beautyrest products, $200 off Tempurpedic mattresses, and 36 months of interest-free financing, starting June 7th, 2010 through July 5th 2010. In addition, the company prepares to launch a new Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), providing notable ownership to its employees and making Sleep Train an employee-owned enterprise.

Today, Sleep Train is known for its superior customer service and team of knowledgeable sales individuals, as well as its continued commitment to the community with the Sleep Train Foster Kids program. Sleep Train locations can be found at www.sleeptrain.com or by calling 1-800-378-BEDS (2337).

Disclosure: The author of this story is the co-founder of Revolution PR and public relations team for Sleep Train, Inc.