THE NIGHTMARES THAT BUILT OUR AMERICAN DREAM

2017

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.

A large crowd of people standing outside a building with a sign that reads "Emhust" and a street sign that says "Broadway." The building is a multi-story structure with many windows, and the crowd appears to be waiting or lining up for something.
Black and white photo of a multi-story brick building on a busy city street corner in New York City. The building has large windows and a sign reading 'INAP YORK.' There are pedestrians crossing the street and blurred cars in motion, indicating traffic. Street signs and storefronts are also visible.

Elmhurst Hospital

First Nap York location at 480 7th Avenue

2018

After raising enough capital, Neil opened the first Nap York in the heart of midtown Manhattan. Nap York welcomed everyone, from red-eye travelers, supermodels like Karlie Kloss, to business people like Mark Cuban.

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 the misunderstanding of the sleep station concept and was forced to pause operations. Over five thousand members joined a wait-list as Neil awaited trial.

Two people examining something on the floor in a school dorm room, with bunk beds, a chair, and a closet labeled 'BED# 12'. The room is lit by a bright light source.
A Tesla car inside a showroom or service center, with the Tesla logo and name on the wall behind it, and a small sleep pod with a curtain on the left side of the image.

NYPD Pods by Nap York

A group of people dressed as construction workers in hard hats and safety vests inside a metal framework structure, some smiling and posing for the camera.

Tesla Pods by Nap York

First Nap York Team

2019

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.

A room with multiple chairs arranged in rows, a bunk bed with bedding, a window, and ceiling lights and fans.

The Chelsea office where Neil slept

Storefront of blink fitness gym in a city with tall buildings and a lamppost outside.

The Chelsea gym where Neil showered

2020

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.

Black and white photo of a city street with tall buildings, pedestrians, and cars.
A black-and-white photo of a hallway with sunlight coming through the windows on either side. There are three ceiling lights, creating starburst effects. At the end of the hallway, there's a bright door.

Second Nap York location at 385 5th Avenue

Nap York Empire Express

2021

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 negotiations, 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.

The image shows the front facade of a building with three floors. The ground floor has two storefront signs, one for a restaurant named 'Deep Indian Kitchen' and another for 'Lenwich.' The upper floors have large windows and are made of brick. The photo is in black and white.

Third Nap York Location at 940 8th Avenue

A modern Nap York room with Sleep Pods, room number 462, and a bed with white linens.

Nap York Central Park

NOW

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 from over 10 different ethnicities.

As for Neil, he has his own apartment again with a German Shepherd aptly named “Nappy”. His next dream is to open locations around the world while donating pods for humanitarian crisis. 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.

Group of people standing outside a restaurant with the sign 'NAP YORK' above the entrance.

The Dream Team

“Do not pray for an easy life; pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.”

— BRUCE LEE