Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale is a Texas-grown phenomenon who knows how to “Save You Money, TODAY!” In 1981, Mack and his wife, Linda, started Gallery Furniture with five thousand dollars and a dream. Adhering to his motto of “early to bed, early to rise, work like hell and advertise,” Gallery Furniture’s television ads made “Mattress Mack” a household name and local celebrity. Gallery’s three locations sell more furniture and mattresses (per square foot) than any other store chain in the nation.
Mack has received countless awards over many years, most notably the volunteer service award “Points of Light” awarded personally by former President George H.W. Bush. Mack’s strong work ethic is matched only by his philanthropy, and he believes “we all have the responsibility for the well-being of our community.”
When Hurricane Harvey floodwaters inundated Houston, Mack opened the store to provide shelter for hundreds of displaced residents and hosted countless relief efforts supplying food, water, clothing, cleaning supplies, and of course, furniture. Mack hosts annual Christmas Giveaways furnishing hundreds of homes for 30+ years. He has also donated $4+ million to the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo for student scholarships.
Mack’s passion for supporting health innovations led him to sponsor the nation’s first Mobile Stroke Unit with The University of Texas Health Science Center in partnership with Memorial Hermann, Texas Heart Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, and Harvard Medical School. He also co-founded the Peace of Mind Foundation for those affected by Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. McIngvale has donated millions of dollars of furniture to teacher lounges in Houston-area schools, to Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, United Way, hurricane victims, and more. He helped to raise over $12 million dollars for the Bush/Clinton fund to aid those affected by the Tsunami in Southeast Asia and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. McIngvale and Gallery Furniture fed 25,000+ people celebrating Thanksgiving and Easter for countless years. Despite these efforts, Mack believes that being at Gallery Furniture every day providing hope to the community is his most important and significant community involvement.
Mack and Linda also own and operate Club Westside. They enjoy spending time with their children, James, Laura, Elizabeth and Regina, and their three grandchildren.