2017
Elmhurst Hospital
In 2017, Neil, a young builder from Queens, embarked on a dream to create an hourly sleep station after realizing the need for on-demand sleep services. Inspired by years of watching his mother work overnight shifts at the hospital without anywhere to take a nap, he envisioned a solution.
His dream was simple: to recharge those who power the world. Recharging anyone, at any time, for however long they needed - ideal for people constantly on the go.
2018
First Nap York location at 480 7th Avenue
After raising enough capital, Neil opened the first Nap York in the heart of midtown Manhattan. Nap York welcomed everyone, from red-eye travelers awaiting hotel check-ins to professionals needing a break from the office.
The unique service attracted media attention from dozens of outlets like Travel & Leisure and Business Insider. Demand grew rapidly, and Nap York began supplying pods to companies like Tesla and the New York Police Department.
However, Neil’s dream soon turned into a nightmare. Just six months in, Nap York became entangled in a legal dispute over unauthorized hotel operations and was forced to cease operations. Over five thousand members joined a wait-list as Neil awaited trial.
Nap York pods at Tesla Motors
First Nap York construction team
Nap York Pods replacing NYPD bunks
2019
The Chelsea office where Neil slept
The gym where Neil showered
After months of legal battles, Neil and his team succeeded in getting the case dismissed. Though Nap York won on paper, Neil lost nearly everything; Nap York couldn’t operate during the dispute, leaving Neil with significant debt. His team disbanded, and Nap York was evicted from its building. He cried as he stood on the corner of 36th & 7th and watched contractors demolish the first pods he had worked so hard to build.
With nowhere left to turn, Neil secretly slept in a friend's office, showered at a $20/month gym each morning, and stored his clothes in a $50/month facility. For nearly two years, he kept his struggles hidden, holding on to the dream of rebuilding.
2020
Second Nap York location at 385 5th Avenue
Nap York Express
A man with nothing to lose will always fight back. For almost two years, Neil was rejected by hundreds of investors to try one more time. And the perseverance and stubbornness eventually paid off.
He finally convinced an office landlord and three supporters to help him open a second Nap York at 385 5th Avenue. However, this dream would last shorter than the first. Less than twenty-four hours after they finished construction, the governor of New York announced that all businesses must close due to a global pandemic. With disbelief, Neil was forced to quarantine while he pondered for months if he should continue fighting for his dreams.
Bored out of his mind and in New York fashion, Neil re-opened Nap York’s doors for essential workers in need of rest. As the only person in the building, he maintained the space every day, offering a refuge for those on the front lines.
2021
Third Nap York location at 940 8th Avenue
Nap York Central Park
When someone has hit rock bottom, there’s no where else to go but up. Rather than worry about investors or debt during the lockdown, Neil saw an opportunity in a struggling hotel. After seven months of negotiation and rallying investors, he and his team hammered and painted tirelessly during the pandemic’s second wave. On time and under budget, Nap York Central Park opened at 940 8th Avenue.
Against all odds, Nap York Central Park launched in June 2021, one of the few new businesses to open in New York City during the second wave of the pandemic.
NOW
THE FUTURE
A few members of the Dream Team
Nap York’s next dream: Portable pods for humanitarian efforts
Today, Nap York welcomes over 10,000 guests monthly from around the world, maintaining a strong record of guest satisfaction. The Dream Team has grown to over 50 employees based in 4 different time zones.
As for Neil, he has his own bathroom in Chelsea and now mentors young entrepreneurs on the power of grit and following one’s calling. Nap York stands as a testament to the American spirit, proving that passion, perseverance, and trusting in God will make dreams come true — even if you’re just a kid from Queens.
“Do not pray for an easy life; pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.”