Apparently St. Louis is the largest metro (besides Riverside, CA which is practically just suburban LA) without an IKEA. Chances are we will get one in a matter of time.
goat314 wrote:Apparently St. Louis is the largest metro (besides Riverside, CA which is practically just suburban LA) without an IKEA. Chances are we will get one in a matter of time.
But not until well after this recession is over. My bet is that any expansion plans they had were thrown out the window.
As least there will be plenty of real-estate options for them to choose from.
exactly - as store cut jobs and stores all together - this recession and economy is not going to move anything big new for awhile.
- 11K
goat314 wrote:Apparently St. Louis is the largest metro (besides Riverside, CA which is practically just suburban LA) without an IKEA. Chances are we will get one in a matter of time.
But again, I don't really think that his the issue. There's not much population and certainly almost no young-modern-asthetic population within 100 miles of St. Louis. On that map Columbus, OH and Indianapolis are served by Cincinnati. Riverside isn't far from an IKEA either. Eventually they might put one out by Wentzville maybe? That would cover STL, KC and all of MO - still not a huge market.
- 2,772
Billken-Metz-I guess you need public transportation near IKEA or any other store so when the thugs rip off the stores,they will have easy acesse back to the hood or ghetto.
— Steve M.
10:15 am January 30th, 2009
— Steve M.
10:15 am January 30th, 2009
- 1,610
JuiceInDogtown wrote:Billken-Metz-I guess you need public transportation near IKEA or any other store so when the thugs rip off the stores,they will have easy acesse back to the hood or ghetto.
— Steve M.
10:15 am January 30th, 2009
I've always wondered why so many black kids have bookshelves and unassembled desks on the Metro. Now I know.
- 5,433
Grover wrote:There's not much population and certainly almost no young-modern-asthetic population within 100 miles of St. Louis.
You're probably right about that, but with that said, for me it's hard to believe the Salt Lake metro area has an IKEA. I don't care how beautiful the scenery is- you could never get me to live in Utah for a variety of reasons.
(I sure wouldn't mind living on Utah Place, though.) 
- 549
Grover wrote:There's not much population and certainly almost no young-modern-asthetic population within 100 miles of St. Louis.
Well, me and my girlfriend make at least two. And I know others, especially within the design community. Maybe not enough to justify an IKEA location here, but rest assured that us young modernists are out there, even if we are a small minority.
I know that IKEA is disputed here as to whether their stuff is any good or not 
, but as a native Seattle-ite, I have always been a fan (we have a HUGE store back home!). But count me in as another of those "young-modern-aesthetic" types, though I am not sure if I fit into the "young" category anymore!
I am an English prof and have bookshelves purchased from IKEA that have withstood the abuse of me piling book after book on them. And when I mean "book," I am talking hundreds! So I can't speak for the quality of all their products, but I have had great luck with the items I have purchased.
A friend and I just did an IKEA run last weekend (in the snow!) to the Bolingbrook IKEA near Chicago. I wish we could have one in the St Louis area but the IKEA runs I make every now and then are fun road trips (and I spend less than I would if there was a local store!
)
, but as a native Seattle-ite, I have always been a fan (we have a HUGE store back home!). But count me in as another of those "young-modern-aesthetic" types, though I am not sure if I fit into the "young" category anymore!I am an English prof and have bookshelves purchased from IKEA that have withstood the abuse of me piling book after book on them. And when I mean "book," I am talking hundreds! So I can't speak for the quality of all their products, but I have had great luck with the items I have purchased.
A friend and I just did an IKEA run last weekend (in the snow!) to the Bolingbrook IKEA near Chicago. I wish we could have one in the St Louis area but the IKEA runs I make every now and then are fun road trips (and I spend less than I would if there was a local store!
)- 153
Most of IKEA's business seems to come from first time suburban home buyers and college students. Obviously, this is based on personal observation, so take it for what it's worth.
From a psychographic standpoint, I don't see the typical IKEA customer as a major modern / classic modern furniture fan. Folks who are into design don't buy their furniture in a cardboard box. IKEA customers are looking for value #1 and I would consider IKEA's design offerings to be very mainstream by today's standards. What set's them apart is the horrible looking merchandise offered at most American furniture stores. No different than the automotive industry, frankly.
IKEA also builds stores to spec, so a retrofit of existing commercial space is not likely. I would suspect a location in Earth City with visibility to I-70 would be a bulls-eye location.
From a psychographic standpoint, I don't see the typical IKEA customer as a major modern / classic modern furniture fan. Folks who are into design don't buy their furniture in a cardboard box. IKEA customers are looking for value #1 and I would consider IKEA's design offerings to be very mainstream by today's standards. What set's them apart is the horrible looking merchandise offered at most American furniture stores. No different than the automotive industry, frankly.
IKEA also builds stores to spec, so a retrofit of existing commercial space is not likely. I would suspect a location in Earth City with visibility to I-70 would be a bulls-eye location.
I realize that Ikea is relatively low-quality in many cases, etc etc. That's fine. I'm a grad student living with a public school teacher so we're not really looking for enduring, well-made furniture so much as stuff that is cheap and will last up to two years.
That said, I am pretty bummed that St. Louis still doesn't have an Ikea. I just got news today that Pittsburgh is opening a satellite within the city in addition to its huge suburban facility.
How can Pittsburgh maintain two Ikeas and St. Louis still does not have one? They are virtually the same city in most senses.
That said, I am pretty bummed that St. Louis still doesn't have an Ikea. I just got news today that Pittsburgh is opening a satellite within the city in addition to its huge suburban facility.
How can Pittsburgh maintain two Ikeas and St. Louis still does not have one? They are virtually the same city in most senses.
- 6,775
steindle wrote:How can Pittsburgh maintain two Ikeas and St. Louis still does not have one? They are virtually the same city in most senses.
Maybe Pittsburgh is cooler than St. Louis.
- 1,218
steindle wrote:How can Pittsburgh maintain two Ikeas and St. Louis still does not have one? They are virtually the same city in most senses.
Maybe the House of Denmark is conspiring to keep them out of STL.
I think that we are lucky that we don't have an Ikea for the following reason: if we were to attract the store, the City would probably let them tear down whatever the hell they want to create enough space for the GIANT showroom and even larger parking needs. I would rather keep the buildings and buy furniture on Cherokee. By the way, Ikea, while affordable and "nice," really is the Walmart of furniture stores. The message Ikea furniture sends in a home IMO is "look at all my temporary furniture that I will eventually replace once I save up enough money." And, just like Walmart they have the capacity to suck the life out of many small businesses because they sell everything from tableware to rugs to candles to furniture to cinnamon buns. I personally don't think we need anymore big boxes in the city, especially when we lack the will power among our leadership to control their potential demands for location, incentives, and parking.
- 3,757
I would not be against IKEA coming if it were in a place that is blighted and in need of development. I would not want historic buildings taken down to accomodate IKEA, but it is unlikely that they would locate in a place like that anyway. I see them locating in a large county strip mall or somewhere in the county, if they ever come here. I cannot see them putting a location near Downtown. I think it would hurt the other big box furniture stores such as Weekends Only, Rothman, House of Dennmark.etc.. etc.. I think the Intaglia, Goodworks & smaller family stores in various neighborhoods, will be fine. They have their niche.
- 2,093
I'm just worried this will be Planet Hollywood all over again.
St. Louis gets one five minutes before no one gives a damn about the place anymore.
St. Louis gets one five minutes before no one gives a damn about the place anymore.
- 466
southsidepride wrote:I'm just worried this will be Planet Hollywood all over again.
St. Louis gets one five minutes before no one gives a damn about the place anymore.
did anyone ever care about planet hollywood?
- 3,757
^ Didn't Planet Hollywood go under financially and significantly downsize the number of restaurants they operate? Maybe it was just the poor performing ones. IKEA is a draw for so many, I think they would do well anywhere, considering how low their prices are.
We still have Hard Rock Cafe.
We still have Hard Rock Cafe.
Maybe McKee is calling them. He started calling the Chinese so maybe he is making phone calls across the other pond. Who else has been massing large parcels near major freeways while seeking big tax credits. If anything, he has probably been quietly pitching North Park development to IKEA. Plenty of space with major freeway access in a central location. Fits typical IKEA store.
Personally, I would like to see IKEA part of ballpark village. You can always put parking above the store or below ground if desired. It would be a break from the IKEA norm as far as I know (large box store surrounded by surface lots - thinking of Chicago's store or even Newark NJ store) and less space for bar mall thoughts.
Personally, I would like to see IKEA part of ballpark village. You can always put parking above the store or below ground if desired. It would be a break from the IKEA norm as far as I know (large box store surrounded by surface lots - thinking of Chicago's store or even Newark NJ store) and less space for bar mall thoughts.
- 11K
^ I don't know how long the crazed IKEA phase is going to last, but their stores are HUGE traffic drivers. It would great for downtown and surrounding businesses to get the numbers in the area. Of course a lot of people spend 8hrs in the store and would skip everything else.
- 3,757
^I would love IKEA to be the driver of development going south of the new bridge. There are many challenges to developing that area. I have always hated the fact that this part of the riverfront was so industrial and plain and simply wasted with salvage yards, heavy industry etc... Crime is also an issue. How many 'county folk' are going to venture to 'North St. Louis' to shop??? A lot of those people feel unsafe going to a Cardinals game, much less shopping in North city.
Between the bridge, the Crown Square area and Mckee's ideas, North City could be on the up and up. This could also lead to the eventual development of the Bottle District site. This is assuming the economy rebounds.
Between the bridge, the Crown Square area and Mckee's ideas, North City could be on the up and up. This could also lead to the eventual development of the Bottle District site. This is assuming the economy rebounds.
Grover wrote:^ I don't know how long the crazed IKEA phase is going to last, but their stores are HUGE traffic drivers. It would great for downtown and surrounding businesses to get the numbers in the area. Of course a lot of people spend 8hrs in the store and would skip everything else.
Plus they do love having acres and acres and acres of parking.
Like I said before they've probably turtled up and won't expand until this recession is over.
- 11K
I say give them the Bottle District site. It's isolated, but with great highway visibility - especially from the coming New Mississippi River Bridge. I'm sure you would be able to see the big blueness from the PSB as well.
Moorlander wrote:IKEA has no plans for St. Louis area store
I thought this would have essentially killed the thread.
stlmike wrote:Moorlander wrote:IKEA has no plans for St. Louis area store
I thought this would have essentially killed the thread.
That's not to say they won't open a store some day.
Based upon their US map these are the only holes I see:
-St. Louis
-Kansas City
-Denver (thats a surprise)
-Memphis
-New Orleans