Ikea Heads To Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, NC-Swedish home furnishing retailer Ikea will build its first store in North Carolina next summer and open two others in Florida this fall as the chain moves to create a stronger presence in the South.

The 345,000-sf Ikea with 1,700 parking spaces is expected to open in the spring of 2009 on 25 acres off Interstate 85 in Charlotte, NC, as part of a larger retail development encompassing more than 135 acres, the retailer said. The additional retail space will be developed after the store opens by Charlotte-based Crescent Resources, which sold the property to Ikea. Two other Ikea stores in Orlando and Sunrise, FL will open this fall.

The Swedish-based chain, which operates more than 250 stores in 34 countries, including 29 in the United States, also plans to open stores in Brooklyn, NY, Portland OR, Somerville, MA, Draper, UT and West Chester, OH.