IKEA Plans To Begin Construction On 28th Store In Greater Detroit Metro Area

Furniture World Magazine

IKEA, a leading home furnishings retailer, expressed appreciation to the Canton Township [MI] Board of Trustees who recently approved final plans for the future IKEA Canton. Pending remaining permits, IKEA could begin construction on the first IKEA store in the Greater Detroit Metro area and all of Michigan in June, with a grand opening in Summer 2006. Approximately 300 coworkers will join the IKEA family when the new store opens. The future IKEA Canton will be the 28th IKEA store in the U.S., and fourth in the Upper Midwest, joining stores in: Schaumburg, IL (opened 1998); Bloomington, MN (opened 2004); and in Bolingbrook, IL (opening this Fall). “We are thrilled and honored by the support of Canton officials and Governor Granholm in favor of opening a Michigan store,” said Pat Merwin, IKEA real estate manager. “We knew Michiganders were fans of IKEA, but the interest since we announced our plans, plus these Township approvals, have made us feel most welcome. We cannot wait until next Summer.” The plan adopted unanimously last week by the Planning Commission and unanimously last night by the Township Board allows IKEA to build a 311,000 square-foot IKEA store and restaurant with approximately 1,100 parking spaces in front of the store, to be situated at the intersection of Ford and Haggerty Roads. Last Wednesday night, the ZBA approved the unique architectural design and signage for which IKEA stores are known worldwide. IKEA now has closed on the purchase of the land under contract and, eventually, can begin demolition on the empty Super Kmart store currently at the site. Besides nearly 10,000 exclusively designed items, IKEA Canton will feature four model homes, 50 room settings, a supervised children’s play area, as well as a 250-seat restaurant serving Swedish specialties such as meatballs with lingonberries or salmon plates, as well as American dishes. Other family-friendly features include a ‘Children’s IKEA’ area in the showroom, baby care rooms, preferred parking and play areas throughout the store. IKEA currently has more than 210 stores in 32 countries, including 22 in the U.S. Other U.S. store locations being planned include: Atlanta, GA; Bolingbrook, IL; Brooklyn, NY; Dublin, CA; Frisco, TX; Somerville, MA; Stoughton, MA; and West Sacramento, CA. Since its 1943 founding in Sweden, IKEA has offered a wide range of home furnishings and accessories of good design and function, at low prices so the majority of the people can afford them. IKEA has been named – for two years in a row – to Working Mother magazine’s annual list of the “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers,” and this year to Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work for.” IKEA is recognized as a socially responsible company, and continuously supports initiatives that benefit causes such as children and the environment. To visit the IKEA Web site, go to http://www.ikea-usa.com.