How Swede It Is

Ikea International A/S (Helsingborg, Sweden) has broken ground for its new Atlanta store, to open in summer 2005 in the city’s mixed-use Atlantic Station development.

The 366,000-square-foot store will include 1597 parking spaces and will employ approximately 500 people.

“We are excited about entering metro Atlanta at this location in Midtown,” said Pat Merwin, Ikea’s real estate manager. “We have known for a while there are many IKEA customers in Atlanta who may have moved here from areas of the country where we have stores, as well as others who are anxious for the unique shopping experience we offer.”

Ikea Atlanta will be the company’s first store in the Southeast. The 190-unit international retailer (18 stores in the U.S.) said plans to open five new stores a year for the next 10 years. Other U.S. stores being planned include: Bloomington, Minn.; Brooklyn, N.Y.; Dublin, Calif.; Frisco, Texas; New Haven, Conn.; Philadelphia; Somerville and Stoughton, Mass.; Tempe, Ariz.; and a relocation in Houston.