IKEA in St. Louis

matt drops the h · PostJan 24, 2005#262005-01-24T05:54+00:00

isu26 wrote:Good points. I totally agree about the TIFs. Walmart should not be subsidized. Nor should any other big retailer. I guess my point is that I don't see too much of a difference in Walmart, Target, Ikea, Kmart, Best Buy, etc., etc. It just seems like Walmart is the one that is always singled out. Thanks for the discussion.

First of all...sorry for posting a topic that seems to be common knowledge these days. Of course, I didn't know about the I-64 improvement project either, so, forgive me...I'm catching up.

Secondly, IKEA doesn't have any local stores (to my knowledge)...Wal Mart has too many. Also, as someone already mentioned, I don't think IKEA is as much a monolith in its market as is Wal Mart. Wal Mart devours small businesses whereas IKEA would provide healthy competition.

Though I would prefer, of course, to see the IKEA store at a downtown location, perhaps the demographics are better off of 44 on Hampton...even though IKEA denies these rumors at this time.

debaliviere · PostJan 24, 2005#272005-01-24T16:10+00:00

Downtown would be great, but the Hampton site is more of what IKEA is looking for - big parking lot, close to major highway, etc.

matt drops the h · PostJan 24, 2005#282005-01-24T18:12+00:00

DeBaliviere wrote:Downtown would be great, but the Hampton site is more of what IKEA is looking for - big parking lot, close to major highway, etc.

Regardless, I would actually like to see this pan out. With a Target and an IKEA (and a *possible* Borders), Hampton would put South City on the map as a retail destination.

markinlondon · PostApr 19, 2005#292005-04-19T10:10+00:00

I just visited the worlds largest Ikea in the company?s home country of Sweden. Interestingly, there are no stores in downtown Stockholm. This store is outside of central Stockholm in a suburban setting.

mattonarsenal · PostMay 11, 2005#302005-05-11T16:19+00:00

IKEA stores until very recently have been exclusivly suburban even overseas. The Philidelphia store that was opened recently was their first store in a major city, but it was developed on a large site with their typical suburban design, not in an "urban area".

Their new store in Atlanta uses a different model. It is being located close to downtown in a new major mixed-use developement called Atlantic Station.

The president of IKEA North America said they are increasingly looking at urban markets for new stores.

This was from an article in a recent issue of ULI's Urban Land magazine.

jjb13 · PostJun 04, 2005#312005-06-04T21:59+00:00

Heard a rumor from a somewhat reliable retailing source that some representatives from IKEA will be in town later this week to scope out a location in STL. The location I am hearing is very surprising - I would venture noone (not even myself) would have guessed. It is in the county, however. I get the feeling that they are feeling out the market to see if our demographics are a match. Will check in later in the week if I hear anything further. Regardless, good news that they are starting to get a little more serious about stl. Anyone else heard similar?

jb

courtland · PostJun 05, 2005#322005-06-05T00:53+00:00

ok, where in the county?

jjb13 · PostJun 05, 2005#332005-06-05T20:16+00:00

If it is true, northwest burbs....

southcitygent · PostJun 06, 2005#342005-06-06T15:05+00:00

I assume that must mean St. Louis Mills. The IKEA in Minneapolis sits alongside the Mall of America.

Expat · PostJun 06, 2005#352005-06-06T16:25+00:00

There are three IKEA stores in the Wash/Balto area. They are all suburban and next to big highways. The highway access is probably important for shipment. They need to be in neighborhoods that don't mind a huge, ugly, blue box with endless parking. One of the locations here is Potomac Mills, same as St. Louis Mills. St. Louis Mills seems like a perfect fit for them.

chesterfieldkid03 · PostJun 06, 2005#362005-06-06T19:04+00:00

I read an article that Ikea also likes to locate near airports, which would make the Mills Mall location perfect for Ikea, near a large mall, great interstate access and the airport being close by. The Mills site is the only one that makes sense... there is no room in West County for one.

jmedwick · PostJun 06, 2005#372005-06-06T20:10+00:00

This is pure speculation, however since Westfield own the struggling Northwest Plaza would they be trying to lure IKEA into that location? It has enough parking and is closer to the airport than Mills, and is close to, though not on 70. I will agree that the Mills location seems like a likely candidate, but I thought this was an interesting alternate location.

jjb13 · PostJun 06, 2005#382005-06-06T20:36+00:00

Very good thinking, Mr JMedwick - this is exactly the speculation that I have heard

Again, rumors only for now, will try to get an update after the weekend to see if it was indeed of substance...

While I would love for them to be at that Hampton/44 slot, even NWP would be a dramatic improvement over 9 hours to and from CHI. Let's hope it is the real deal this time...

jb

urbz · PostJun 07, 2005#392005-06-07T05:07+00:00

i don't want to put a damper on things, but my mom and all the women in my family went to Ikea in Chicago. That store was set up to serve the entire midwest. As they were leaving, they saw another Ikea being built about a half-hour away from that one. Supposedly, the current store was not large enough for the demand, so they are building a bigger one in chicago in order to serve the entire region. I doubt we will see anything soon.

Expat · PostJun 07, 2005#402005-06-07T12:44+00:00

If you look at a United States map of IKEA locations, for the most part they are close to each other. IKEA carries lots of big merchandise, it is really a huge warehouse, a lot of their decisions are based on distributing, transporting, goods. That is why they are clustered on the coast. They can service stores that are near each other easier. The fact that they are in Chicago and expanding in Chicago is a good sign. It means they can set up healthy distribution systems which will eventually put St. Louis and other cities within reasonable distance of Chicago on the distribution stream. It will be great when IKEA opens in St. Louis, but people put too much emphasis on it, as if it were some type of affirmation. IKEA is not a "cool" barometer. When they finally reach St. Louis, IT WILL BE IKEA'S LUCKY DAY, but it won't make a bit of difference to St. Louis. The sophistication level of St. Louis already far out shines IKEA.

jjb13 · PostJun 07, 2005#412005-06-07T14:40+00:00

I just want them here because I like the contemporary style, it is reasonably priced, and it has a massive selection. It would be nice not to have to make a trip to Chicago to shop there.

Also, it is a tourist destination for many, so getting one here would certainly be a draw for people in surrounding cities such as KC, Memphis, Little Rock where it makes more sense to drive to STL than CHI.

Expat · PostJun 07, 2005#422005-06-07T15:12+00:00

I like IKEA, too. And I hope they build one in St. Louis soon. I didn't mean to put down IKEA or people that like IKEA! I was just trying to say the decision to come to St. Louis probably has to do with distribution, shipping, etc. It isn't because St. Louis has been overlooked or is undeserving. If they are building and expanding in Chicago, I have no doubt they are looking for ways to expand in the Midwest.

jmedwick · PostJun 08, 2005#432005-06-08T12:49+00:00

In the end, i don't think it will matter if St. Louis has an IKEA or not. It is simply a status symbol at this point because there locations are so few in the US. In the end st. louis might have one, but by that time, no one will care.

Expat · PostJun 08, 2005#442005-06-08T13:23+00:00

JMedwick wrote:In the end, i don't think it will matter if St. Louis has an IKEA or not. It is simply a status symbol at this point because there locations are so few in the US. In the end st. louis might have one, but by that time, no one will care.

Absolutely correct. When I talk about St. Louis to my non St. Louis friends, they never ask if IKEA is located there. It doesn't really matter. That is why I say it is IKEA's lucky day when they open in St. Louis. They will make lots of money, but it won't make St. Louis any better or worse.

southcitygent · PostJun 15, 2005#452005-06-15T13:17+00:00

I heard yesterday that IKEA was opening their first New York City store in Brooklyn. The store will be 346,000 sq ft and sit on a 22.5 acre site. If New York can't get an urban type store I doubt downtown St. Louis has a chance.

chesterfieldkid03 · PostJun 23, 2005#462005-06-23T13:08+00:00

By Martin Van Der Werf

Of the Post-Dispatch

06/23/2005

FIGURE THIS: Scandinavian design, meet St. Ann? IKEA, the furniture and design superstore, apparently is headed to Northwest Plaza. The once-hot shopping center is down-at-the-heels but seems poised for a major makeover.

Westfield Group, which owns the mall, has been showing plans to potential tenants that include a free-standing IKEA store near the corner of Lindbergh Boulevard and St. Charles Rock Road. Part of the shopping center would be leveled and rebuilt as a "lifestyle center," with stores that open to the outside.

IKEA has been perhaps the most hotly pursued retailer in St. Louis. Westfield officials did not return a phone call seeking comment.

I opened a new thread in St. Louis County Forum since we now know it will be in St. Ann

coachjw · PostJun 30, 2005#472005-06-30T06:47+00:00

Currently, I live in Minneapolis and am moving to St. Louis in two weeks. This thread inspired me to go to IKEA before I move. (Only my third trip since it opened last summer, so I'm not a total addict.)

Expat · PostJun 30, 2005#482005-06-30T15:53+00:00

coachjw wrote:moving to St. Louis in two weeks.

I am jealous - congrats!

coachjw · PostJul 21, 2005#492005-07-21T21:08+00:00

Don't be jealous... I've been here for almost two weeks and I'm STILL not in my condo -- I've been told the appraisal has what's been holding us up during this week... ugh!

I'll be happy to be back soon though!

And I went to IKEA one more time before I left (I had to add that since this is what the thread was about)...

codascoram · PostJul 22, 2005#502005-07-22T02:14+00:00

I was just in minneapolis, and just went to the IKEA there, and I have to say, WHY would we want one of these? If people here are anti-sprawl, why would we invite the biggest box store not named wal-mart into our community? Tax dollars and jobs? No thanks. Plus, their stuff is crap! Sure it looks nice, but you can easily tell the difference between painted particle board and real wood. Their faux swedish names for products are so tacky. The only thing I liked about IKEA was their swedish meatballs they had in the restaurant. An IKEA we can do without.

IKEA in St. Louis

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