IKEA Portland, To Open In Spring 2007, Will Build On Success Of Seattle-Area Store

Furniture World Magazine

IKEA, a leading home furnishings retailer, announced plans for a store in Portland, OR, increasing the Swedish retailer’s presence in the Pacific Northwest.  (A Seattle-area store in the City of Renton, WA opened in 1994, and is known for drawing customers from great distances.)  Pending permits, construction of the future IKEA Portland can begin next spring, with an anticipated opening in Spring 2007. The 280,000 square-foot future IKEA Portland and its approximately 1,200 parking spaces will be built on nearly 19 acres at the southwestern corner of I-205 and Airport Way, and will reflect the same unique architectural design for which IKEA stores are known worldwide.  The IKEA store will be located at the eastern end of Cascade Station, a 120-acre mixed use development of office, hotel and retail in a pedestrian-friendly environment adjacent to the Portland International Airport.  75 bicycle racks and two light-rail stations will provide convenient access for commuting coworkers as well as for customers, since IKEA offers home delivery service. “We are thrilled to enter the Greater Portland area with a second home in the Pacific Northwest,” said Pat Merwin, IKEA real estate manager.  “We appreciate the efforts of those who worked to create this exciting opportunity for us at Cascade Station.  IKEA Portland will allow us to be more convenient to our customers while also introducing the unique IKEA family-friendly shopping experience to new customers throughout Oregon and southwest Washington.” Besides nearly 10,000 exclusively designed items, IKEA Portland will feature four model homes, 50 room settings, a supervised children’s play area, as well as a 250-seat restaurant serving Swedish specialties such as meatballs with lingonberries or salmon plates, as well as American dishes too.  Other family-friendly features will include a ‘Children’s IKEA’ area in the showroom, baby care rooms, preferred parking and play areas throughout the store. In addition to jobs created during the construction phase, approximately 300 coworkers – including many specialized management positions – will join the IKEA family when the store opens.  IKEA Portland will provide significant property tax revenue for local governments and schools.  “We look forward to being a community partner in Portland, where people share many of the same values as IKEA,” noted Merwin. IKEA currently has more than 225 stores in 33 countries, including 25 in the U.S., where other stores are being planned in:  Brooklyn, NY; Canton, MI; Dublin, CA; Round Rock, TX; Somerville, MA; Stoughton, MA; and West Sacramento, CA. Since its 1943 founding in Sweden, IKEA has offered home furnishings and accessories of good design and function, at low prices so the majority of the people can afford them.  For three consecutive years, IKEA has been named to Working Mother magazine’s annual list of the “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers” and Training magazine’s annual “Top 100” ranking of companies that excel at human capital development – as well as to this year’s FORTUNE’’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list.  IKEA incorporates environmentally friendly efforts into day-to-day business and continuously supports initiatives that benefit causes such as children and the environment.  To visit the IKEA Web site, please go to http://www.ikea-usa.com.  For information about working at IKEA, please visit http://JobsAt.IKEA-usa.com.