Bernard Castro facts for kids

Bernard Castro (born August 11, 1904 – died August 24, 1991) was the amazing inventor of the modern convertible sofa. This is a sofa that can easily turn into a bed!

Born in Sicily, Italy, Bernard moved to the United States in 1919 when he was just 15 years old. He didn't finish high school, but he started working as an apprentice, learning how to fix and make furniture.

Starting a Business

In 1931, Bernard opened his very first store with only $400. This small store grew into a huge chain of furniture showrooms. By the time he passed away in 1991, he had sold over 5 million of his special convertible sofas! He had 48 stores in 12 different states and became a very successful businessman.

Family Life

Bernard married Theresa Barabas on Valentine's Day in 1942. They had two children, Bernard Jr. and Bernadette. Bernadette became quite famous in the New York area because she was the company's official spokesperson when she was only four years old! Theresa passed away in 2002. Later, in 1993, another company called Krause Furniture bought Castro Convertibles.

Sofa Bed Innovations

Bernard was involved in every single part of making his sofa beds, from designing them to selling them. Before him, sofa beds were not usually put in living rooms. But Bernard changed that! He had a background in interior design, which helped him create stylish and modern convertible furniture. He made sofa beds something people wanted to show off in their homes.

Bernard was also incredibly smart when it came to advertising. He used television, radio, and print ads all at the same time to reach customers everywhere his stores were located. One of his cool ideas was the "Scotch n Sofa," which was a sofa that could turn into a bar with a record player built right in! Products like this made Castro Convertibles a leader in new and exciting furniture. Bernard also wanted his showrooms to be fun places to visit, almost like a show. He even built a 35-foot boat inside his showroom in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which brought in many customers.

Giving Back to the Community

Bernard was very generous with his time and money. He supported many important causes throughout his life. He was a founding member of the Columbus Citizens Foundation and helped organizations like Boys Town of Italy, the Anti-Defamation League, the American Heart Association, and the Royal Dames for Cancer Research.

In 1963, Bernard received the special Horatio Alger Award. This award is given to people who have achieved great success and the "American Dream" through hard work and amazing accomplishments. Bernard was also a member of important groups like the Knight of Malta. In 2014, Bernard was honored by being added to The American Furniture Hall of Fame. He even has a bronze plaque on their Walk of Fame! He also received an honorary doctorate degree from Mercy College in New York in 1974.

Florida Connection

Bernard was a founding member of the Florida Council of 100 and was very active in the Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce in Florida. He was also a big supporter of the Florida National Guard. He even gave hundreds of acres of his land in Ocala for a special training area for the National Guard. Because of his support, he was made an honorary Green Beret, and a tribute to him was published in the United States Armed Forces newspaper, Stars and Stripes, after he passed away.

Castro Convertibles Today

After Bernard's passing, his daughter Bernadette managed the sale of the company to Krause Furniture. However, she kept the many buildings and properties her father had bought, which meant the family went into the real estate business.

The famous Castro Convertible brand was put on hold until 2010. That's when Bernadette Castro and her children bought back the rights to the brand. They relaunched the business with one of the most popular original products: the Castro Convertible Ottoman. Instead of having many stores, the new Castro products are now sold online to regular customers and to hotels and resorts.