Mattress stores are more common than McDonald's, almost always empty, and suspiciously clustered wherever you go. For years, the internet has suspected they're not just selling mattresses. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli investigate the three leading theories — money laundering, real estate arbitrage, and something more surprising — from Al Capone and Meyer Lansky to Mattress Firm's infamous bankruptcy.

Learn more: https://mysterious.fm/415
Become a Patron: https://GiveMysterious.fm

Further Resources:
• Mattress Firm Conspiracy (Know Your Meme): https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/mattress-firm-conspiracy
• Bloomberg Business on Mattress stores in Manhattan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2WrkmIq6Ds
• Freakonomics Radio on Mattress stores: https://freakonomics.com/podcast/are-we-in-a-mattress-store-bubble/

Chapters:
0:00 - MYS415
0:13 - Intro
2:10 - A surprising number of stores
8:08 - The Mattress Firm element
9:42 - Thank you to Patrons
10:13 - Sponsor: The Secret of the Goldfish
11:07 - Sponsor: The Grady Group
11:23 - Theories
12:13 - Reason Perspective
12:28 - Money laundering?
27:16 - Real estate arbitrage?
38:59 - They are what they say?
47:03 - How to get a mattress for less
55:48 - Faith Perspective
57:57 - Bottom Line
59:04 - Further Resources
59:30 - Mysterious Feedback: #404 The Ghosts of the Banta Inn
1:05:02 - Your mysterious feedback
1:05:39 - Thank you to Oasis Studio 7
1:05:45 - Jimmy’s YouTube channel
1:06:18 - Next Time: The Olivet Discourse
1:06:38 - Mysterious World store
1:06:46 - Get your Mysterious merch
1:06:55 - Show notes
1:07:02 - Become a Patron
1:07:11 - Sponsor: Rosary Army and School of Mary
1:07:34 - Sponsor: The Lord Is A Warrior
1:08:22 - Outro

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