IKEA COMING TO COLARADO???????????

Centennial is set to get a big boost to their economy with the announcement that IKEA — the world’s leading home furnishings retailer — is planning on opening a store in the city.

IKEA submitted plans yesterday to the city of Centennial to build a 400,000-square-foot store along the western side of Interstate-25 in the Park Meadows area. Along with the 500 jobs that are expected to be created during the construction phase, IKEA Centennial will provide 400 jobs once the store opens and a great deal of sales and property tax to the city, according to Joseph Roth, director of public affairs for the Swedish retailer.

Local stores not worried

Local furniture stores didn’t seem worried that IKEA would hurt their business.

“Furniture Row Company looks forward to IKEA coming to Centennial,” said John Knippenberg, Furniture Row’s advertising manager. “They, like us, are an exciting national retailer who will create and add awareness and interest for home furnishings in the Denver region,”

“It’s a great thing to have happen to Denver,” said Mark Waldbaum of Woodley’s Fine Furniture. “It’s more choices for the consumer and a well established company.”

Roth said that IKEA could actually help business for other furniture stores by raising awareness of the possibility of affordable redecorating.

“Any retailer who offers affordable home furniture will benefit,” he said.

Good for all

There are more than 75,000 Colorado IKEA customers who have ordered products from the retailer online, said Roth. The Centennial store would join the over 280 IKEA stores in 36 countries, including 35 in the United States.

If the city approves the plans, the Centennial location will likely bring in a large client base. With 1,700 parking spaces, nearly 10,000 exclusively designed items and a 350-seat restaurant serving Swedish specialties, the store would be ready for business.

“We are thrilled to submit plans for IKEA Centennial where we can build upon our western U.S. presence,” said a statement from Doug Greenholz, real estate manager for IKEA. “This proposed IKEA store would bring existing Colorado customers a store of their own and would introduce other Coloradans to the unique IKEA product selection and family-friendly experience.”

Gene Davis, DDN Staff Writer

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