Ikea is heading to Vegas

Ikea is submitting plans to Clark County, Nevada, for a Las Vegas-area store that would increase the Swedish retailer’s presence in the western United States. The application marks the beginning of the governmental approval process that could lead to the store’s opening as early as summer 2016.

Until then, customers will have to shop at the closest locations in Covina, California; Tempe, Arizona, or Draper, Utah; or online at IKEA-USA.com.

Located in the Spring Valley area of Clark County, approximately 13 miles southwest of downtown Las Vegas, the 351,000-sq.-ft. proposed store and its nearly 1,300 parking spaces would be built on 26 acres along the northern side of Interstate-215 at Durango Drive, near the intersection with Sunset Road.

The retailer said it will also evaluate potential on-site power generation possibilities to complement its current U.S. renewable energy presence at nearly 90% of its U.S. locations.

“We look forward to continue growing our western U.S. presence with Ikea Las Vegas,” said the company’s U.S. CFO Rob Olson. “This accessible location would provide the already 101,000 Las Vegas-area customers a store of their own and introduce the unique Ikea shopping experience to other consumers throughout Clark County and Southern Nevada.”

The Las Vegas location would feature nearly 10,000 exclusively designed items, 50 inspirational 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 the more than 500 jobs that are expected to be created during the construction phase, approximately 300 coworkers would join the company when the new store opens.

Source: retailing today