Jan. 15, 2023 started like a regular Sunday for William Wellauer, who begins the day by opening ESC Mattress Center, the store he co-owns with Joshua Rigsby. But there was nothing normal about what happened next.
“I smelled smoke as soon as I opened the door. It also looked like someone had broken into the store,” Wellauer says.
He immediately texted Joshua, who was at his daughter’s birthday party, and later that day the two pieced together what happened. There were clear signs that the sushi restaurant next door had suffered a fire, and smoke must have spread throughout their store.
“We’re guessing that it was the fire department who broke into the store to make sure that the fire hadn’t spread, but we’re being told different things by different people so it’s still guesswork at this point,” Joshua says.
The smoke damage is extensive, and ESC Mattress Center is closed for the foreseeable future. Joshua and William now spend every day working with insurance representatives, suppliers and others to get the store re-opened as soon as possible. They’re also still helping customers get a better sleep.
“The store’s phone calls are forwarded to both of our cell phones, so we’re still able to help people. Our focus has always been guiding people through the mattress purchase, and we’ll continue to do that online and over the phone as best we can. Hopefully we’ll be back in the store and back to normal in two to six months,” Joshua says.
What you need to know:
- ESC Mattress Center is closed to the public for now.
- Keep in touch with the store and find updates for re-opening on Facebook, at escmattresscenter.com or call the store at 425-512-0017.
- Purchases are still available! Support Joshua and William through this challenging time by shopping the store online or by phone. Most purchases can be delivered within two to four weeks.
“There are still a lot of unknowns, but we’re working to get more information as soon as we can,” William says.
The locally owned and operated store is still offering their own delivery service during the temporary closure, with daytime and evening deliveries available.
Find ESC Mattress Center on Facebook and online at www.escmattresscenter.com. The brick-and-mortar location at 10121 #30, Evergreen Way, Everett, is temporarily closed for repairs.
