BUSINESS & INDUSTRY: Space-saving Beds in New Jersey

The thought of "Murphy beds" often conjures up images of old movies, in which beds fold down from walls and comedians get folded up into them, much to the amusement of laughing audiences.

However, the Murphy Bed Center of New Jersey, Ramsey, is anything but slapstick comedy. In fact, its elegant

beds don't resemble the Murphy beds of the past, as they come in a variety of attractive designs, systems and finishes. The 1,000 square-foot store showcases nine models, but there are approximately 40 models to choose from and the store's computer aided drafting (CAD) equipment allows customers to see precisely what beds will look like in specific room dimensions. At press time, the center has definite plans to open a second, 1,000 squarefoot store in Cliffside Park.

"The response [to the beds] has been excellent," enthuses Sal Riggi, partner. "People have many reasons for needing a Murphy bed: children returning home from college, a marriage that didn't work, parents getting older and children taking in parents."