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SUNRISE, FL-Swedish retailer Ikea has begun construction on its first store in Florida. The 293,000-sf store is rising at the northwest corner of Interstate 595/State Road 84 and NW 136th Avenue.

The 20-acre store site is located in the planned 25-acre Gateway at Sawgrass shopping center planned by Fort Lauderdale-based Stiles Corp. In addition to the store, Ikea is building a two-level parking deck with capacity for 1,100 vehicles. The store is expected to open in summer 2007.

The store will be adjacent to 40,000 sf of specialty retail shops and restaurants to be developed by Stiles on five acres along NW 136th Avenue. "We are thrilled to be entering South Florida with this perfect opportunity in Sunrise," says Ikea real estate director David Iemolo. "Stiles' long-standing commitment to this location, paired with the city's dedication to quality development is resulting in a distinctive, high-profile project. Today's milestone is another major step forward to achieving that goal."