Ikea Saddled Up for Big D

Ikea International A/S (Helsingborg, Sweden), operator of giant-sized home furnishings stores in 31 countries around the world, has announced plans to build its first store in the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex.

The 310,000-square-foot store, near the intersection of the Dallas North Tollway on the west and Texas State Highway 121 in Frisco, Texas, will be the retailer's second store in Texas. Its Houston store opened in 1992 and will move in August into a new building twice the size.

Pending city approval, construction of the proposed Ikea Frisco could start as early as spring 2004, with an anticipated opening date of summer 2005.

“We are very excited about the prospect of entering the Dallas-Fort Worth area at this site in Frisco. It is an exciting opportunity for us to join a fast-growing part of Dallas-Fort Worth area at the intersection of two major highways, in a location that is easily accessible to the entire Metroplex,” said Doug Greenholz, real estate manager for Ikea. “There are many Metroplex customers who already know Ikea by having visited our existing stores, whether in Houston, around the country or abroad. Based on the constant inquiries we receive, Ikea is confident there will be much excitement about the unique shopping experience we will be offering right here in Frisco.”

Ikea currently has more than 190 stores, including 18 in the United States. As part of its North American expansion, the company plans to open five new stores a year for the next ten years. Other U.S. stores being planned include: Atlanta; Bloomington, Minn.; Brooklyn, N.Y.; Dublin, Calif.; New Haven, Conn.; Philadelphia; Somerville, Mass.; Stoughton, Mass.; and Tempe, Ariz.