If you want to get a good night sleep, and need a bed for your home in Timmins, the downtown is the place to go, as a new bed shop - The Great Nightz Sleep Store opened this week on Pine Street South, a few doors down from Third Avenue.
Great Nightz Sleep joins Arctic Furniture and the Brick, two stores who also sell beds in the downtown area. They are located within a few blocks of each other.
The only other place to buy a bed in Timmins is Timmins Furniture on Riverside Dr. in the West end.
The opening of Great Nightz Sleep on Pine Street South actually is more of a re-branding of the store as much as it is a brand new shop.
Michael Boudreau, the owner of Great Nightz Sleep, was the former manager of Mattress World at the same location and has seven years experience in the bed and bedding retailing field.
“We sell more than bed frames, mattresses and bedding,” Boudreau said. “ We provide advice and consultation, that meet the needs of our customers, by matching their needs to the right bed.”
“Considering we sleep one third of our lives, having the right mattress and pillows, so you can experience a restful night’s sleep is very important to one’s health and well being, said Boudreau.
On hand to welcome Great Nightz Sleep were Noella Rinaldo, executive director of the Downtown Business Improvement Association and Walter Wawrzaszek, Councillor for Ward 2. Also on hand were downtown association vice president Jamie Roach, and Stacey Martin, DBIA communications coordinator.
“The Downtown Business Improvement Association welcomes Michael and The Great Nightz Sleep Store, and they will be a great addition to our list of stores that provide the people of Timmins products and services they need,” Rinaldo said.
Last fall the downtown association launched a drive to find suitable tenants to some of the empty store fronts in Timmins. Since then a number of new establishments have opened within the downtown.
In addition, to Great Nightz Sleep, Aline’s Tea House opened at the corner of Pine Street South and Second Avenue. Revello’s Shwarma is now serving on Cedar Street South right next to the Victory Tavern. The Days Inn is being renovated and rebranded as the Senator on Mountjoy Street South and Algonquin Boulevard East.
In addition, a number of existing storefronts have been renovated including Timmins Flower Shop, Alfie’s Variety, Artic Furniture and several others.
Also last fall, Hard Rock Animal Hospital opened on the corner of Third Avenue and Mountjoy Street South.
And though Timmins has been experiencing a few store closures, such as the closing of Sears and the Buck or Two in the Timmins Square, the new openings such as Great Nightz Sleep continue to provide an encouraging sign for the city.
Boudreau, who is from Timmins is also proud to say that all his beds are made right here in Ontario.
“The beds I sell are made in Vaughan, Ontario,“ Boudreau said. “The bedding like sheets, and pillows come from further afield.”
In addition to traditional home beds Great Nightz Sleep also sells beds for camps and camping.
“We try to provide a wide range of sleep products for the home and also for recreation as well,” Boudreau said.
Boudreau said there are increasing rates of sleep issues from people suffering with sleep apnea, to back issues, shift work that interrupt sleep.
“It is important to find the right mattress, the meets your needs,” he said. “For example if you suffer from sleep apnea the right pillow that gives you a greater elevation will help keep your breath unobstructed.”
“For back problems, you might need more support and a firmer mattress that doesn’t sag as much,” he added.
The problem many people make when buying a mattress said Boudreau is that many people go for the least expensive and in the long run it could end up costing you more interms of your money and your sleep.
“A good mattress lasts up to seven years, before it should be replaced,” said Boudreau. “Yet many people keep that worn out mattress for up to 10, 15 even 20 years and it just isn’t providing the support you need for a good night sleep, yet many people choose to do this.”
