IKEA to Charlotte

[Savio]

I heard it this morning on the radio. They will be in the university city area near I85. :newsmile9: :coffee2: :silly2:

[Savio]

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2007/01/01/daily15.html?b=1167800400^1397317

[Savio]

IKEA eyeing store in University area
Charlotte Business Journal - 12:53 PM EST Wednesday
by Ashley M. London
Staff Writer

International retailer IKEA is considering plans to open its first Carolinas store in the University City area.

Real estate and government sources confirm the "blue and yellow" giant is laying the groundwork to open a store of at least 200,000 square feet near the intersection of City Boulevard and Interstate 85.

Crescent Resources is seeking a rezoning for about 29 acres at the site IKEA is targeting. The petition by Crescent, which acquired the property in 1997, says the zoning change would "accommodate new retail development not to exceed 380,000 square feet."

The land is now zoned for light industrial; the rezoning would allow a mixed-use development.

Officials with the Sweden-based company say IKEA has not committed to a store in the Carolinas. "As part of our expansion plans for the U.S., we constantly are evaluating opportunities in major metropolitan areas across the country," says Joseph Roth, IKEA North America spokesman. "We certainly recognize the potential customers that exist for us in the Carolinas and the greater Charlotte area."

But real estate and government sources close to the deal confirm IKEA is near a formal announcement for the project, which could come as soon as the middle of January.

IKEA operates 237 stores in 34 countries and offers a wide range of home furnishings and accessories with an accent on functionality, design and affordability.

The company's products are popular with young professionals living in small spaces as well as consumers looking to outfit their homes with less conventional and more European-styled furnishings.

For more details on this breaking story see Friday's Charlotte Business Journal.

[meatpile]

Stupid area to open.

[DaveW]

central location..where should it open?

[Savio]

Stupid area to open.


I think I know where you're getting at and to. Somewhat I agree but there is so much land in that area but it's going to have to compete with Concord Mills traffic heading up and down the way also.

That area though hits their target market.

[Trace]

I thought the IKEA thing had jumped the shark a while ago.

[chipshot]

Stupid area to open.

right off of 85 is a good location and it serves the people who would actually buy it

[meatpile]

central location..where should it open?

Are you saying that the location they picked is central, and asking where else it should open, or are you asking for a central location where it should open?

[DaveW]

its somewhat of a central location. I'll go check it out. If it was at carolina place mall or somewhere down there, I'd never go.

[chipshot]

its somewhat of a central location. I'll go check it out. If it was at carolina place mall or somewhere down there, I'd never go.

plus people in Myers Park don't shop at Ikea

[meatpile]

plus people in Myers Park don't shop at Ikea

I know 2 people here who did their kitchens with Ikea, one posts here.

[chipshot]

I thought Society folk found Ikea tacky.

[meatpile]

I thought Society folk found Ikea tacky.

I don't hang with society folk.

[chipshot]

I don't hang with society folk.

I said Myers Park which is Society if you hang with them or not. You can't deny that South Charlotte is less likely to shop at Ikea than University Area and beyond

[Science]

I know 2 people here who did their kitchens with Ikea, one posts here.

They're both cheap bastards.

[meatpile]

I said Myers Park which is Society if you hang with them or not. You can't deny that South Charlotte is less likely to shop at Ikea than University Area and beyond

I don't hang with society folks, which means I have no idea what is or is not appealing to them.

You tell me.

[y2b]

our desks in Graphics are all Ikea...nice stuff

[sds70]

Nordstroms then Neiman Marcus and now IKEA . . . What else do we need? Bloomingdales? We still need Saks Fifth Avenue though :( :( . . What is taking them so long to find another location to plop a store at?

[Savio]

IKEA, Wal-Mart rumored for area
KAREN CIMINO AND NICHOLE MONROE BELL
kcimino@charlotteobserver.com | nbell@charlotteobserver.com

Two different developers want to build retail developments off City Boulevard in University City that would each be large enough to house big-box stores.

Both a Wal-Mart Supercenter and an IKEA are rumored to have shown interest, but neither retailer says it is committed to anything right now.

Government officials and developers also are not saying what will come to the sites. They say it's too soon.

Regardless of who moves in, the proposed developments will significantly affect the landscape between Interstate 85 and North Tryon Street.

Crescent Resources needs an extension of City Boulevard to North Tryon Street in order to develop its 165-acre site, which has no road access now. That's where interest from IKEA is rumored. And Crescent has asked for a rezoning that would allow the construction of a 380,000-square-foot retail center and residential units.

The developer wants to extend City Boulevard now rather than wait for the city to do it, said Walter Fields, a planning consultant on the Crescent project.

Long-range city and state road plans already call for creating an exit off northbound I-85 at City Boulevard. University City motorists now rely on the N.C. 49, Harris and Mallard Creek Church Road exits.

The second site, where a Wal-Mart Supercenter is rumored to have interest, is being developed by The Providence Group. It's just north of where the city wants City Boulevard and North Tryon to meet.

The site is a prime location because it will sit next to a future light-rail station. But city leaders don't like the strip mall design, which includes a large parking lot. They would prefer the stores sit closer to the street, with parking in the back, but city officials can't force that because the developer doesn't need a rezoning.

Charlotte City Council member Michael Barnes, District 4, said he's heard that Wal-Mart Supercenter plans to move to the Providence Group site on North Tryon, about 1 1/2 miles from its location at the Shoppes at University Place.

Wal-Mart denied the rumors.

"We are always looking for new locations in the Charlotte area to best serve our customers, but we have no confirmed site in the University area at U.S. 29 at this time," Wal-Mart spokeswoman Tara Stewart said in an e-mail.

IKEA also would not confirm whether it was considering opening a store in Charlotte.

"We have committed to nothing in the Carolinas at this point," company spokesman Joseph Roth said by telephone. "We are always evaluating areas throughout the Southeast, just as any other region in the country."

Roth said IKEA has about 150,000 customers in the Carolinas. The closest IKEA stores to Charlotte are in Atlanta and Washington.

Mary Hopper, executive director of the University City Partners, said landing an IKEA in northeast Charlotte would be a coup for the area.

"It'd be great if it were true," she said. "It would say a lot for our demographics."

IKEA is popular for its contemporary, European-style furniture aimed at young, hip people.

Crescent Resources has asked to switch from light industrial to mixed-use development, which would allow residential development on its site.

The rezoning has been deferred indefinitely, though, as Crescent Resources determines what to do about City Boulevard.

"We're making progress but it's complicated by the fact that the city has plans for City Boulevard," said Fields, Crescent's planning consultant.

"Crescent has 165 acres there that they're looking at. There's a lot of master planning going on. ... If it was a simple rezoning we would have finished it up a long time ago, but it's complicated by the fact that it involves new roads."

Charlotte has $25.5 million to spend on fixing the weave where U.S. 29/N.C. 49 meet. Crescent has offered to extend City Boulevard, but wants the city to reimburse it.

[builder]

So nobody's committed to anything except asking for expanded infrastructure?

[Science]

It's official...


Ikea skips Triangle for Charlotte store (http://www.newsobserver.com/100/story/533599.html)