Feb 27 2016
IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, today announced that steel framing has advanced far enough along that installation of the iconic blue composite panels has begun on its new, larger store in Burbank, CA, less than one mile from the company’s oldest store in the Western United States. Installing blue panels is a key milestone needed for keeping the store on track to open Spring 2017, and reflects the unique architectural design for which IKEA stores are known worldwide.
Installation of iconic blue panels begins at relocated IKEA Burbank in Southern California. (Photo: Business Wire)
The future 456,000-square-foot new IKEA Burbank store, including 1,700 parking spaces, is being built on 22 acres west of San Fernando Boulevard and south of Providencia Avenue. Until the future, roomier store opens on the new site in Spring 2017, customers can continue to shop at the existing IKEA Burbank. (Nearby IKEA stores are in Carson, Costa Mesa and Covina.)
“With the New IKEA Burbank taking shape and the blue paneling now going up, we continue to be on track for a grand opening next Spring,” said Jeff O’Shaughnessy, store manager. “The progress is very exciting. We hope to be enclosed fully within several months, and cannot wait to begin transforming the building’s interior to look like an IKEA store as well. We know there are many IKEA Burbank customers who are looking forward to the many conveniences that will come with a newer, larger store.”
The new, more spacious IKEA Burbank will feature a larger quantity of the nearly 10,000 exclusively designed items, 50 inspirational room-settings, three model home interiors, a supervised children’s play area, and a larger (600-seat) restaurant serving Swedish specialties. Other family-friendly features include a ‘Children’s IKEA’ area in the showroom, baby-care rooms, play areas throughout the store, and preferred parking. IKEA now offers a product picking and delivery service as well as an IKEA Family loyalty program.
In addition to 500 jobs created during construction, IKEA will generate even more annual sales and property tax revenue to the city and local schools. IKEA also will evaluate potential on-site power generation to complement its current U.S. goal of a renewable energy presence at nearly 90% of its U.S. locations.
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 370 IKEA stores in 47 countries, including 41 in the U.S. IKEA has been included in rankings of “Best Companies to Work For” and, as further investment in its coworkers, has raised its own minimum wage twice in two years. IKEA incorporates sustainability into day-to-day business and supports initiatives that benefit children and the environment. For more information see IKEA-USA.com, @IKEAUSA, @IKEAUSANews, or IKEAUSA on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest.