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IKEA Centennial store moving aheadRetail giant aims for fall 2011 openingGene Davis, DDN Staff WriterWednesday, March 17, 2010 | |
The world’s leading home furnishing retailer is one step closer to calling Colorado home.
IKEA announced yesterday that it has hired contractors and acquired a work-site permit for its future Denver-area store. The grand opening is scheduled for Fall 2011.
“Construction crews soon will begin clearing and grading the site, and we look forward to breaking ground officially in a couple of months,” said a statement from Doug Greenholz, IKEA real estate director.
More than five local businesses and 500 workers will help IKEA, a company based out of Sweden, open its 415,000 square-foot facility by Fall. The Centennial-based Saunders Construction was chosen by IKEA to oversee the project’s construction.
“It’s in our backyard and it’s going to be great for Colorado,” said Saunders Spokeswoman Marcy Loughran.
The store is expected to bring 400 sought after jobs after it opens. IKEA has been ranked in FORTUNE’s annual “100 Best Companies to Work For list,” and Working Mother Magazine’s annual list of “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers.”
Unique shopping experience
In addition to 10,000 exclusively-designed items, IKEA Centennial will offer approximately 50 different room settings, three complete model home interiors, a supervised children’s play area and a 500-seat restaurant serving Swedish specialties such as meatballs with lingonberries or salmon plates, according to a press release. Other family-friendly features include a “Children’s IKEA” area in the showroom, baby care rooms, preferred parking and play areas throughout the store.
According to IKEA Spokesman Joseph Roth, the furniture retailer chose to open a store in Centennial because of the site’s location. The Centennial IKEA will be easily seen from Interstate 25, accessible from several exits, and be just down the street from Park Meadows Mall. Roth also praised the City of Centennial for being easy to work with.
“It was a great opportunity, a win-win,” said Roth.
When IKEA in 2008 submitted plans to the city of Centennial to build the store, local furniture stores said they weren’t worried that the retail giant would hurt their business.
“Furniture Row Company looks forward to IKEA coming to Centennial,” said John Knippenberg, Furniture Row’s advertising manager, in 2008. “They, like us, are an exciting national retailer who will create and add awareness and interest for home furnishings in the Denver region,”
“It’s a great thing to have happen to Denver,” said Mark Waldbaum of Woodley’s Fine Furniture in 2008. “It’s more choices for the consumer and a well established company.”
Roth said that IKEA could actually help business for other furniture stores by raising awareness of the possibility of affordable redecorating.
“Any retailer who offers affordable home furniture will benefit,” he said.
There are currently more than 300 IKEA stores in 38 countries, including 37 in the U.S. The company was founded in Sweden in 1943.
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