**Does Not Include Mattress due to Federal and State Regulations** **Pictures of Mattress are only to show how it would look** Bernard Castro invented the modern convertible couch. He was born in Sicily and emigrated to the United States in 1919. He never finished high school, but worked as an upholsterer's apprentice. In 1931, he opened his first store, which eventually became a chain he named Castro Convertibles. At his death in 1991, he had sold over 5 million of his convertible sofas through 48 retail showrooms in 12 states. In 2010, Bernadette Castro and her children bought back the intellectual property and relaunched the business with the Castro Convertible Ottoman.