RENTON, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, today announced that customers can begin shopping at its relocated Seattle-area store in Renton, WA on Wednesday, February 22, 2017, following a smooth transition from the eventual closure of the original store at the same location. Prior to the new IKEA Renton’s opening, customers can continue to shop at the original store through Monday, February 20, when the old store will close permanently at 6:00 p.m.
Although the new IKEA Renton will be open to visitors on Wednesday, February 22, onsite construction work will continue because the old store ultimately will be demolished to create more parking. The new store was built in part of the original parking area, and IKEA has been providing off-site parking with shuttle service and furniture valet on holidays and weekends. The temporary offsite parking and shuttle arrangement will be maintained until the new lot is finished. Upon completion of the entire project in early Fall 2017, IKEA will throw a housewarming celebration to welcome customers to the new store with activities including assorted giveaways, product promotions, food sampling and in-store entertainment.
“We are thrilled with the construction progress accomplished last year, and cannot wait for customers to experience our new store,” said Diedre Goodchild, store manager. “We also appreciate the flexibility of our customers, who have demonstrated loyalty and patience during this relocation and will have to do so a bit longer, after the store opens.”
Chronologically, the events comprising the transition from old to new store include:
- The closing of the original store at 6 p.m. on Monday, February 20, 2017.
- No Seattle-area IKEA store open to the public on Tuesday, February 21, 2017;
- New IKEA Renton welcomes customers at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, February 22, 2017;
The 399,000-square-foot new Seattle-area store, with its 1,600 parking spaces, is being built on the 29-acre IKEA parcel’s parking lot in Renton, near State Highway 167, approximately 11 miles southeast of downtown Seattle. While the new IKEA Renton will reflect the more updated store design and layout for which IKEA stores are known worldwide, it will offer the same 10,000 exclusively designed items as the previous store, as well as other similar elements of the unique IKEA shopping experience, including a larger restaurant serving Swedish specialties. In addition to the already 415 IKEA Renton coworkers, IKEA created 500 construction jobs and will generate even more annual sales and property tax revenue to the city and local schools. IKEA also has installed Washington’s largest rooftop solar array atop the new store, complementing its current U.S. goal of a renewable energy presence at nearly 90% of its U.S. locations.
Since its 1943 founding in Sweden, IKEA has offered home furnishings of good design and function, at affordable prices. IKEA incorporates responsible social practices and sustainability into its business model, and supports initiatives that benefit children and the environment. There are currently more than 390 IKEA stores in 48 countries, including 43 in the U.S. IKEA has been ranked among “Best Companies to Work For” and, as further investment in its coworkers, has raised its own minimum wage twice in two years. For more information see IKEA-USA.com, @IKEAUSANews, @IKEAUSA or IKEAUSA on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest.
