RENTON, WA, 2016-Apr-21 — /EPR Retail News/ — IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, today announced that steel framing has advanced far enough that installation of the iconic blue composite panels has begun on the relocated Seattle-area store under construction adjacent to its current store in Renton, WA. Installing the blue panels is a key construction milestone that keeps the store on track to open in Spring 2017, and it reflects the unique architectural design for which IKEA stores are known worldwide.
The 399,000-square-foot new Seattle-area store, including 1,600 parking spaces, is being built across the 29-acre IKEA parcel’s parking lot in Renton, near State Highway 167, approximately 11 miles southeast of downtown Seattle. Until the new store opens in Spring 2017, customers can continue to shop in Renton at the existing IKEA store. During the construction period, IKEA will be providing additional parking nearby on weekends for customers and shuttling them to the store. Customers can find detailed information about parking directions, shuttle plans and construction updates available at IKEA-USA.com/Seattle and @IKEA_Seattle.“With this newer version of our Seattle-area store taking shape and the blue paneling now going up, we continue to be on track for a grand opening next spring,” said Diedre Goodchild, store manager. “The progress is exciting. Once we are enclosed fully, we can begin transforming the building’s interior to look like an updated IKEA store.”
The new Seattle-area IKEA store will feature the same 10,000 exclusively designed items, 50 inspirational room-settings, three model home interiors, a supervised children’s play area, and a larger restaurant for 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. In addition to the already 350 Renton coworkers as part of the global IKEA family and 500 jobs created during construction, IKEA will generate even more annual sales and property tax revenue to the city and local schools. IKEA also is evaluating 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 380 IKEA stores in 48 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.
Local Contact:
Annie Boeckman
(425) 656-4404, x 1342
Source: IKEA