Ikea evaluating site for 1st Florida store
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, March 1, 2004
DAVIE, Fla. — DAVIE, Fla. — Ikea is eyeing a site in the Fort Lauderdale area for a 310,000-square-foot store, its first in Florida, as part of its aggressive 10-year expansion plan.
The Sweden-based Top 100 company is looking to build on a 40-acre site here at Interstate 595/State Road 84 near Nob Hill and Bright roads. The store would be part of an Ikea development that could include 1,400 parking spaces and other retail shops.
Ikea said it is evaluating the site and working with local government and the community to address any concerns. If all goes well, construction could begin next year for a 2006 opening.
The company already has a fan base here. More customers from South Florida shop the retailer — at stores in other markets, online or through catalogs — than from any other major metropolitan market without an Ikea store, said Joseph Roth, director of expansion public affairs for Ikea North America.
He said the company is "very optimistic" about the Davie site, which is expected to draw from most of South Florida.
Ikea plans to open five new North American stores a year over a 10-year period.
