Richard Castanon - IKEA Charlotte Store Manager
IKEA Charlotte is opening in just over a month – February 18th is the magical date! Check out the IKEA Charlotte Readying to Open slideshow on CharlotteObserver.com.
Have you been able to get any photos of the new IKEA in Charlotte, NC? We’d love to get your pictures!
[Photo via CharlotteObserver.com]
Amid all the public excitement over Ikea’s Winnipeg plan is a danger that those high expectations have so far to fall.
Considering this city’s record on infrastructure renewal and paving the way for development, that risk is very real. The international home furnishings retail giant’s arrival here is certainly not a done deal, as long as more than $20 million in street expansions and traffic signal improvements are necessary for the chain to open its proposed 350,000-square-foot outlet within three years. Read more…
IKEA Canada Announces IKEA Winnipeg to be Opened between 2011 and 2013 near Kenaston Boulevard and Sterling Lyon Parkway.
Although many furniture retailers in Winnipeg have been forced to close their doors, IKEA Canada has announced that it plans to open an IKEA in Winnipeg sometime between late 2011 and early 2013.
The affordable home furnishings retailer has signed an agreement to acquire a large piece of land at Kenaston Boulevard and Sterling Lyon Parkway, formerly part of the CN Intermodal Terminal.
However, the future of an IKEA in Winnipeg is conditional upon Municipal and Provincial government approvals. In order to move into their planned location, they must first rezone and redevelop the land. Read more…
Sweden-based furniture chain Ikea is expected to announce today that it is planning to set up shop in Winnipeg.
A source, who asked not to be identified, confirmed Ikea is set to announce “something big” today involving a possible location for the store at Kenaston Boulevard and Sterling Lyon Parkway.
Rumours about the retail furnishings chain coming to the city have popped up a number of times in recent years. In late November, Ikea Canada said it was “looking at Winnipeg in a very serious manner”.
“We are taking a very serious look at the market and there is a specific piece of land we’re interested in,” spokeswoman Madeleine Lowenborg-Frick said at the time.
She could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Last month, she refused to identify the site and said there was “no immediate plan” for a store in Winnipeg. At the time, Premier Gary Doer confirmed the province had spoken with Ikea representatives.
Another source said approximately 20 City of Winnipeg employees are bound by non-disclosure agreements not to discuss Ikea’s plans for the city. Read more…
The Ikea rising near Ybor City, in the Tampa Bay area, now has the familiar blue walls, a store manager and enough qualified candidates in the hopper to fill all 53 management jobs. The Swedish furniture giant says the 353,000-square-foot building, which will be the biggest Ikea in Florida, is on schedule for a summer opening.
The store will be the chain’s first with an expanded Swedish foods department after a successful test in Boston.
The hiring process starts this winter for the other 350 full- and part-time jobs. The company points to its website, ikea.com, for dates when applications will be accepted. Read more…
IKEA presses on despite some residents’ concerns
Centennial’s plan for a 4,000-square-foot(sic) IKEA store is one step closer to reality — but not without some residents’ concern.
After addressing traffic, lighting and noise issues associated with the proposed home furnishings store, City Council voted 8-0 in favor of proceeding with development.
The Willow Creek subdivision closest to the proposed site would endure most of the increased lighting and traffic.
As a result, members of the area’s homeowners’ board voiced their concerns on behalf of residents.
“We’ve been told that traffic at IKEA would be the same as at a new supermarket,” said Willow Creek board member Mike Morgan. “There are going to be 30 check-out stands in this store, and IKEA already has 70,000 existing customers,” he said. “There’s going to be far more traffic than they’re showing.”
As for noise, Morgan said residents already deal with noise from the interstate, and they expect more when IKEA is built.
“If you don’t put a noise [code] in place, the more developers will come in and the problem will get worse,” he said. “If you can’t do that, then recognize that you’re increasing the noise pollution in our community.”
City planners said they know noise is already an issue in the area, and that it’s a concern for the city. There is no city code that requires IKEA to build a sound barrier to reduce noise pollution, officials said.
In addition to added noise and lights, Willow Creek board member Linda Steis wants the IKEA sign to be reduced from its 100-foot-tall size.
“You recently changed your city ordinance to allow retailers to have signs 32 feet high,” she said. “In the spirit of good will, I hope you’ll consider a shorter sign [for IKEA].”
According to city planner Andrew Firestine, destination retailers like IKEA are allowed to have 100-foot signs. Large format retailers and retailers near the highway only are allowed 32-foot signs.
“This is the one and only piece of property identified and permitted to have a 100-foot tall sign,” Firestine said.
Two other Centennial residents, Becky Bowles and Jim Leevy want the traffic to be studied to eliminate issues on County Line and Chester roads.
The city will continue to study the issues while development takes place.
The new store will be next to Interstate 25 between Dry Creek and County Line Road.
[Via www.centennialcolorado.com by Holly Cook]
“The Swedish retailer Ikea opened the doors to its latest store for a tour of
the facility.
The new Ikea in Round Rock is 252,000 square-foot, will
have 10,000 items, 50 room settings, three complete model homes, a supervised
play area and a restaurant with 250 seats.
Employees are ready for the grand opening.
Store manager Jeff O’Shaughnessy says the store’s primary objective right now is to continue hiring and training nearly 300 Central Texas
workers.
The grand opening is Wednesday, Nov. 15.”
[Note: Positive Fanatics is not officially connected with IKEA. Please visit the store website to apply.]
“ROUND ROCK, Texas, Sept. 7 — IKEA, the world’s leading home
furnishings retailer, today announced that its future Round Rock, TX store will
open at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, November 15, 2006. IKEA Round Rock will be the
Swedish Company’s third store and restaurant destination in Texas and 29th in
the U.S. (The closest IKEA stores are in the North Texas city of Frisco, and in
Houston).
IKEA Press Release via YAHOO News
[via Jen Segrest]
“IKEA, a leading home furnishings retailer, expressed its appreciation to the
Orlando [FL] City Council for the body’s approval of a proposed IKEA store in
Central Florida increasing the Swedish retailer’s planned presence in Florida
and the Southeastern U.S. This City Council approval today follows the Municipal
Planning Board’s recommendation last month to approve plans for the store.
Pending permits, construction of the future IKEA Orlando can begin later this
year, with an anticipated opening in Fall 2007…a store is (also) slated to
open Summer 2007 in the South Florida city of Sunrise.
IKEA is thrilled
and honored at the support voiced by the Orlando City Council in favor of our
opening a store in the area next year, said David Iemolo, real estate manager
for IKEA. While we already knew many in the area were IKEA customers, the
outpouring of interest since we announced our plans plus this approval by the
City makes us feel so welcome.
The plan approved in an unanimous city
council vote allows IKEA to build a 309,000 square-foot store, with its 1,200
parking spaces, on 22 acres off Eastgate Drive, south of Conroy Road, across
from the southeastern end of The Mall at Millenia. The future IKEA Orlando will
reflect the same unique architectural design for which IKEA stores are known
worldwide.
Besides offering nearly 10,000 exclusively designed items,
IKEA Orlando will feature three model homes, 50 room settings, a supervised
children’s play area, and a 300-seat restaurant serving Swedish specialties such
as meatballs with lingonberries and salmon plates, as well as American dishes.
Other family-friendly features will include a Children’s IKEA area in the
showroom, baby care rooms, preferred parking and play areas throughout the
store.”
Furniture World
“WEST CHESTER TWP. - Ikea’s decision to locate its Ohio
megastore on 56 acres off the Union Centre Boulevard exit of Interstate
75 is the culmination of more than a year of effort by developer
Schumacher-Dugan Construction Inc.
“Ikea was right at the top in
our minds,” said Larry Schumacher, president of the company, which
created the 1,000-acre commerce park along the fast-growing
interchange. “It’s like Procter & Gamble, Liz Claiborne or General
Motors (other tenants in the development). We have a high-quality
development, and Ikea fits that mold,” said Schumacher, who said he has
shopped at the Ikea in Pittsburgh.
The 339,000-square-foot
blue-and-gold home furnishings mecca, to open in the fall of 2007, will
employ 400, have parking for 1,400 cars and is expected to draw
shoppers from hundreds of miles away.
Ikea says it has tracked
100,000 customers within two hours’ drive of the West Chester location
who have visited their other stores.
Michael Maier, Ikea’s real
estate manager, said at a news conference Tuesday that the chain has
been considering a location in Ohio for years.
“We’re thrilled to bring jobs, shopping and all things Swedish to West Chester,” Maier said.”
The Enquirer
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“One of the most sought after stores in the country is coming to the Tri-State.
IKEA executives announced Tuesday morning that they are building their next U.S. store in West Chester.
The store will be near Union Centre Boulevard, in the area of Allen and
Mulhauseer Roads. The store will be plainly visible from I-75.
Local 12 Reporter Dennison Keller has more on what makes these stores so special.”
