Monarch Mattress era coming to an end in Windsor

Politicians and judges have used them. So have well-known performers. Gamblers, prisoners and university students have been able to try them out, too.

They're the mattresses that have been built for decades at the corner of Wyandotte Street East and Gladstone Avenue in Windsor's Walkerville neighbourhood. And you can find them in many homes and institutions across Canada.

They were all built by the Monarch Mattress Manufacturing Co., which has been operating in Windsor since 1948.

Very soon, you won't find any new ones for sale. That's because Howard Spinner, the owner, is retiring and the business is shutting down at the end of August.

"It's kind of sad when you close down a business, because you're so used to everything and seeing everybody and meeting everybody and hearing everybody's problems and things like that," Spinner told CBC News.

"That part I'm going to miss, but I'm also looking forward to time to rest and to take it easy for a while."

Not just 'slapped together'

Over the years, Monarch built its name on quality and service, Spinner said, as it made mattresses designed to last for a long time, in some cases more than 20 years.

That's contrary to many other mattresses made today, which Spinner said are "sort of slapped together" and last only eight to 10 years.

"I think our track record has probably proven itself," said Spinner.

At Monarch, Spinner said mattresses were made to order, if that's what the customer wanted.

They could be made firmer or softer, or longer — something Spinner said is an increasing need today with people being taller than they were in the past.

Being a factory-direct operation, Spinner said customers could drop in and see their mattresses as they were being made.

While Monarch sold mattresses to customers looking to use them in their homes, the company also did work for institutions including universities, nursing homes, prisons, hospitals and even Caesars Windsor.

Monarch prided itself on its customer service, which Spinner said is critical for a business.

"People respected us for the little extra things we did for them," said Spinner, noting that Monarch does not charge for delivery or for disposing of their customers' old mattresses.

Many changes

Spinner has run Monarch for the past 27 years, when he bought the business from his wife's aunt and uncle.

He had been working for a similar business in London, Ont., when the opportunity came up to buy Monarch years ago.

The move would work out well for Spinner, even though Windsor was a different place when he arrived.

"The city's really changed quite a bit from when I first moved here," said Spinner.

That includes the trendy part of Walkerville, of which Monarch sits on the edge.

At one time, Spinner said that every property across the street from Monarch on Wyandotte Street East was for sale at the same time. But now, it's the hot place to be.

"Everybody is trying to get into this area," said Spinner, noting that the restaurants and businesses that have sprung up have helped improve things considerably.

The future of the Monarch building is unclear. Spinner said he's not sure what the new owners plan to do with the property where the mattresses have been made for so long.