ST. LOUIS, MO, 2014-12-11 — /EPR Retail News/ — 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 St. Louis store. Installation of the blue panels is a construction milestone that ensures the store will open Fall 2015, and reflects the unique architectural design for which IKEA stores are known worldwide.
The 380,000 square-foot future IKEA St. Louis store, with 1,300 parking spaces, is being built on 21 acres along Interstate-64 at Vandeventer Avenue, and will open Fall 2015 in the City’s Cortex Innovation District. Until then, customers can shop at the closest IKEA stores: Chicago-area IKEA Bolingbrook and IKEA Schaumburg; the Kansas City-area store in Merriam, KS; or online at IKEA-USA.com.
“With the IKEA St. Louis’ structure significantly formed and blue paneling now going up, we definitely are on track for a grand opening next fall,” said Rob Olson, IKEA U.S. CFO. “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 customers in the area who are excited for us to open, including more than 101,000 who currently are driving great distances to shop at our stores.”
IKEA St. Louis will feature nearly 10,000 exclusively designed items, 50inspirational 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 St. Louis also will provide annual sales and property tax revenue for local governments and schools.
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 St. Louis will offer nearly 70 food service opportunities in its Restaurant, Swedish Food Market, Café Bistro and coworker cafeteria. Department management positions will be available in early 2015. IKEA is working closely with the St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment(SLATE). Interested candidates can be notified when jobs are posted by contacting SLATE and requesting to be updated on opportunities as they develop.
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 360 IKEA stores in 46 countries, including 40 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, @IKEAUSANews, @IKEAUSA or IKEAUSA on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram and Pinterest.
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