Dec 19 2013
IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, today announced that steel framing has progressed far enough that installation of the iconic blue composite panels has begun on its future Kansas City-area store opening next fall in Merriam, KS. Installation of the blue panels is a construction milestone that ensures the store will open Fall 2014, and reflects the unique architectural design for which IKEA stores are known worldwide.
Iconic blue exterior begins to transform future Kansas City IKEA store opening fall 2014 in Merriam, KS (Photo: Business Wire)
The 359,000 square-foot future IKEA store, and 1,200 parking spaces, is being built in the city of Merriam on 18.4 acres along the eastern side of Interstate-35 and Johnson Drive, eight miles southwest of Kansas City, Missouri. Until IKEA Merriam opens, customers can shop at the closest IKEA stores in Centennial, CO; Frisco, TX; Bloomington, MN; Bolingbrook, IL; or Schaumburg, IL; or online at IKEA-USA.com. Also, IKEA recently announced plans for a St. Louis store to open Fall 2015.
“With the Merriam store’s structure significantly formed and blue paneling now going up, we definitely are on track for a grand opening next fall,” said Mike Ward, IKEA U.S. president. “We hope to be enclosed fully after the new year, and cannot wait to open IKEA Merriam in Fall 2014. We know there are many Kansas City-area customers who are excited for us to open, including more than 60,000 who currently are driving great distances to shop at our stores.”
IKEA Merriam will feature nearly 10,000 exclusively designed items, 50 inspirational room-settings, three model home interiors, a supervised children’s play area, and a 450-seat restaurant serving Swedish specialties such as meatballs with lingonberries and salmon plates, as well as American dishes. Other family-friendly features include a ‘Children’s IKEA’ area in the Showroom, baby care rooms, play areas throughout the store and preferred parking. In addition to 500 jobs expected during construction, 300 coworkers will join the IKEA family when the store opens. IKEA Merriam also will provide annual sales and property tax revenue for local governments and schools. Also, IKEA previously announced that a geothermal system will be constructed as part of the store’s heating and cooling system – the largest such project in Kansas or Missouri.
In the spring, opportunities will be available for candidates interested in working at this employer of choice in home furnishings sales, interior decoration, customer service, safety and security, cashiers, maintenance, goods flow, receiving, warehouse and stock replenishment. Also, setting itself apart, IKEA Merriam will offer nearly 70 food service opportunities in its Restaurant, Swedish Foodmarket, Café Bistro and coworker cafeteria.
Since its 1943 founding in Sweden, IKEA has offered home furnishings of good design and function, at low prices so the majority of people can afford them. There are currently more than 340 IKEA stores in 42 countries, including 38 in the U.S. IKEA has been ranked in FORTUNE’s annual “100 Best Companies to Work For” list, Working Mother magazine’s annual list of “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers” and Training magazine’s annual “Top 100.” IKEA incorporates sustainability into day-to-day business and supports initiatives that benefit children and the environment. For more information, see IKEA-USA.com, facebook.com/IKEAUSA, @DesignByIKEA, and http://pinterest.com/IKEAUSA/.