Mattress Firm Inc., a Houston-based mattress dealer, has opened three stores here within the last month, says Daniel Sanburg, its Spokane-based market manager.

The retailer's expansion into Spokane is its first foray into Washington, Sanburg says.

Two of the new stores are located on Spokane's North Side, at 9701 N. Newport Highway and at 5027 N. Division, and the third is in Spokane Valley, at 4701 E. Sprague.

DLP Construction Co. Inc. of Alpharetta, Ga. is the contractor for all three locations, Sanburg says, adding the construction company is contracted by Mattress Firm for work on its stores nationally.

Mattress Firm constructed buildings for the new stores along Newport Highway and Sprague Avenue. Sanburg declines to disclose construction costs. The store on Division is in an existing structure it's leasing across from NorthTown Mall. The building formerly was a Sleep City outlet, which was operated by Missoula, Mont.-based Sleep Shoppe Inc.

Sanburg says all three mattress showrooms operate out of between 4,000 square feet and 5,000 square feet of space.

"When we came into Spokane, we had a pretty aggressive schedule," he says.

Between the three locations, Sanburg says Mattress Firm will employ 10 full-time sales associates and four or five full-time warehouse associates. He says although the retailer doesn't have immediate plans to hire additional employees, it's looking at expanding farther into Washington and into Idaho. Mattress Firm plans to open a store in Lewiston, Idaho, next month, with the goal of operating between six and eight locations throughout the Inland Northwest, Sanburg says.

"It just depends on real estate that becomes available," he says.

Mattress Firm operates more than 1,000 stores in 28 states. The mattress retailer currently operates one store in Boise, the closest location to Spokane. The stores will stock mattress and bedding supplies from manufacturers such as Sealy, Serta, and Simmons.