Looks like they are exaggerating their space requirements.  I just looked at several Ikea sites on Google Earth and they seem to be mostly in the 15-20 acre range, with some as low as 10 acres (shared parking across the street at a mall).

About time for an official IKEA Garfield Heights announcement, isn't it? I'm thinking so...

You'd think with all the work to increase capacity at the Tiedeman interchange that Brooklyn might know something we don't.

^especially with American Greetings moving

Reading an early May 2016 story about the recently announced Milwaukee IKEA - and Cleveland came up from the IKEA spokesman, Joe Roth:

 

"That exit off 94 and Drexel Avenue did not exist up until three or four years ago," Roth said. "And in some of the older, more established metropolitan areas it's just difficult to find 25 to 35 acres of land. We had the same challenge in St. Louis that took us 10 years. We've been looking in Cleveland and we still haven't found the site there. When you're going to put one store in the major metropolitan area, you just need to get it right the first time and it was worth the wait for us."

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2016/05/05/why-ikea-chose-to-open-its-first-wisconsin.html

 

And another CLE IKEA Joe Roth mention in a March 2016 story on a potential Norfolk store - finally announced in June:

 

"In the meantime, Hampton Roads shouldnt feel too left out. There are only 41 Ikeas nationwide, with the 42nd opening in Las Vegas in May. Roth said it took 10 years before the company recently found a site in St. Louis, and its still looking for a spot in Cleveland. Stores for Memphis; Indianapolis; Columbus, Ohio; and Jacksonville, Fla., are opening within the next two years."

 

http://pilotonline.com/business/biz-buzz/so-when-will-ikea-come-to-hampton-roads-rabid-fans/article_951380a7-91c8-5da6-94dc-9a0652928942.html

 

 

 

 

 

Looking at the much smaller markets they're entering now, it's hard to believe they want to put a store in the Cleveland area for whatever reason. I can't believe it takes 20+ years to find a spot for what is simply another big-box store.

I thought this thread was about Brooklyn, NY, until reading the above comment. 

You'd think with all the work to increase capacity at the Tiedeman interchange that Brooklyn might know something we don't.

 

They started that work two years ago. Obviously the planning even before that. Place is a total cluster when Key lets out. You'd sit over there and hear fire/EMS sirens and just think "well somebody is screwed."

Ikea scorecard: April 2017 (all have or are building stores, except those noted).... So it's about time for CLE, isn't it?

 

 

2010 Metro Rank

1 New York

2 Los Angeles

3 Chicago

4 Washington, DC

5 Boston

6 San Francisco

7 Dallas

8 Philadelphia

9 Houston

10 Atlanta

11 Miami

12 Detroit

13 Seattle

14 Phoenix

15 Minneapolis

16 Cleveland/NEO                     NO IKEA

17 San Diego

18 Denver

19 St. Louis

20 Orlando

21 Tampa

22 Sacramento

23 Pittsburgh

24 Charlotte

25 Portland

26 Cincinnati

27 San Antonio

28 Kansas City

29 Indianapolis

30 Columbus

31 Las Vegas

32 Austin

33 Milwaukee

34 Raleigh-Durham                     JUST ANNOUNCED - May 2017

35 Salt Lake City

36 Norfolk/Virginia Beach

37 Nashville                             JUST ANNOUNCED - May 2017

38 Greensboro/Winston-Salem     NO IKEA

39 Louisville                             NO IKEA

40 Jacksonville

(oh, and Memphis...)

 

Did the mother of IKEA's CEO die in a car crash here or something?

I was told today (second hand, but from a good source) that this site is still actively in play, and is the ONLY site in Cleveland Ikea is willing to build. I forget the details of it, but basically the type of wetland designation is one that the Army Corp's of Engineers does not cover, but instead is under the jurisdiction of the state. So things are going to be appealed and worked through the state.

 

My own thinking now: Since the state of Ohio doesn't give a SH!T about the environment, we should see Ikea here sooner or later.

Why the hell would they absolutely rule out the potential site in Garfield Heights? That one seems like an equally viable choice, just without the environmental concerns.

Why the hell would they absolutely rule out the potential site in Garfield Heights? That one seems like an equally viable choice, just without the environmental concerns.

 

There's environmental concerns as well there, just not like across the freeway.  Perhaps more importantly, there's the perception of environmental concerns.

 

Garfield Heights in that area is also getting a less than stellar reputation.  Brooklyn may be no worse in definable terms, but again perception carries a lot of weight in a case like this.

 

Brooklyn's probably got a more competent city government too.

IKEA update: Both Raleigh-Durham and Nashville had new IKEA stores announced in the last week, alone...  Unreal.  Of the top 40 markets noted above, 37 will now have stores - and Cleveland/NEO will be the only region in the top 37 not to have one.

 

http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2017/05/25/ikea-nashville-announcement/345242001/

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2017/05/18/ikea-confirms-plans-for-2020-store-opening-at-cary.html

 

The one change from most recent announcement of stores/articles about/leading up to announcements - the past few years  - is a comment that it takes a long time to find a location for one of their stores (and have looked in said market for x year..- them mentioning they are still looking in CLE after years without a site)

 

 

Here's a crazy idea: an ikea on the lake. Also, use it as a shipping and distribution location to other ikeas. That would be very green since it would reduce the amount of trucks driving to the stores from the east coast. Sweden is practically on the way from the current freighter line that comes into the Port of Cleveland.

From WKYC last night:

 

http://www.wkyc.com/life/shopping/northeast-ohio-ikea-prospects-remain-as-columbus-opens/445355419

 

The IKEA rep's language about no specific timeline or committed location in CLE is similar language with regards to "location and timeline" to what he has used in other metros just prior to store announcements... In Norfolk and Raleigh, both announced in the last year, he has used almost identical language - in published reports of IKEA rumors - within 3-4 months of store announcements. (He has other language for use when there is not a chance of a store, etc...)

 

"IKEA focused on Cleveland..." - was supposed to open in CLE 1st per their president:

 

http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170606/with-columbus-store-ready-to-open-ikea-now-focused-on-cleveland

 

Here's pretty strong evidence, from a local real estate insider, that IKEA may announce a northwest corner 480/Transportation Blvd location in the "very near future"  - a year since the published reports on this site began and public officials went silent...... (For those keeping score, most recent IKEA new store announcements have occurred on Tuesdays or Thursdays... so keeping an eye on the calendar...)

 

http://www.grs-global.com/messin-with-sasquatch-in-cleveland/

 

If this is the location, will be interesting to see what might become of the nearly vacant CityView center on the south side of this intersection... The increased traffic might be enough to make something happen there...

 

If this is the location, will be interesting to see what might become of the nearly vacant CityView center on the south side of this intersection... The increased traffic might be enough to make something happen there...

 

I can't find a news article, but I have heard that CityView was sold recently. The property isn't in good shape and any new development will have to deal with the perception problem and the fact that Giant Eagle has used its veto power in the past to stifle just about every suggested use for the adjacent storefronts.

 

Regardless of what happens with CityView, if Bridgeview is indeed going to be the location for Greater Cleveland's IKEA, Garfield Heights should finally complete the long discussed project of extending Transportation Boulevard to Rockside Road.

IKEA has two Cleveland stores: one is on Polaris Pkwy in Deleware County or you can shop the original Cleveland store in the west suburbs of Pittsburgh. Pretty clear they have no interest in NE Ohio despite all their claims of shopping for a "perfect" spot. Somehow they have managed to find these spots all over the rest of the country.

IKEA has two Cleveland stores: one is on Polaris Pkwy in Deleware County or you can shop the original Cleveland store in the west suburbs of Pittsburgh. Pretty clear they have no interest in NE Ohio despite all their claims of shopping for a "perfect" spot. Somehow they have managed to find these spots all over the rest of the country.

 

Although some may consider Columbus to be a suburb of Cleveland, that is still a mighty long trek for Clevelanders. Pittsburgh is in another state. No thanks.

Cleveland CSA = 2.7 million

Columbus CSA = 2.1 million

Pittsburgh CSA = 2.6 million

 

Cleveland should have its own IKEA.

I completely agree Cleveland should have it's own. IKEA clearly has some sort of commitment issue with the area. So when I hear these rumors of IKEA it's a lot of hot air to keep Cleveland people hopeful and sucker them to drive to the "Cleveland" stores in Pittsburgh and now Columbus. IKEA is becoming the ultimate Cleveland "troll".

 

With the growth of Amazon why pave over more land for a big box store that might not exist in a decade. IKEA is already making changes to counter Amazon and feeling the pressure. Maybe, Cleveland will get the last laugh in this charade after all.

I completely agree Cleveland should have it's own. IKEA clearly has some sort of commitment issue with the area. So when I hear these rumors of IKEA it's a lot of hot air to keep Cleveland people hopeful and sucker them to drive to the "Cleveland" stores in Pittsburgh and now Columbus. IKEA is becoming the ultimate Cleveland "troll".

 

With the growth of Amazon why pave over more land for a big box store that might not exist in a decade. IKEA is already making changes to counter Amazon and feeling the pressure. Maybe, Cleveland will get the last laugh in this charade after all.

 

IKEA seemed pretty committed on the Brooklyn site - purchase agreement and all - until the Army Corps stepped in and screamed "wetlands."

 

 

 

 

I completely agree Cleveland should have it's own. IKEA clearly has some sort of commitment issue with the area. So when I hear these rumors of IKEA it's a lot of hot air to keep Cleveland people hopeful and sucker them to drive to the "Cleveland" stores in Pittsburgh and now Columbus. IKEA is becoming the ultimate Cleveland "troll".

 

With the growth of Amazon why pave over more land for a big box store that might not exist in a decade. IKEA is already making changes to counter Amazon and feeling the pressure. Maybe, Cleveland will get the last laugh in this charade after all.

 

Eh, Amazon can't grow much more in that space... or in a lot of spaces really. It's the thrift stores that are the real problem for all furniture retailers. With the stigma removed from going to the thrift store a massive amount of money never gets spent since furniture is sold at 10 cents on the dollar at them as compared to new.

I think the biggest issue is that Cuyahoga County, due to its big boom back in the day, is a built out county. There is probably very slim pickings in the county that can satisfy the needs of IKEA so easily and that probably is causing a big issue.

I think the biggest issue is that Cuyahoga County, due to its big boom back in the day, is a built out county. There is probably very slim pickings in the county that can satisfy the needs of IKEA so easily and that probably is causing a big issue.

 

But does it have to be built in Cuyahoga County?  Both of Ohio's IKEAs are not in their primary county but in adjacent, growing suburban counties (Butler and Delaware).  Could it not be built in, say, Medina or Lorain County?  I'm not saying it should but Cuyahoga would be an anomaly in this state for the primary county to get one.

I think the biggest issue is that Cuyahoga County, due to its big boom back in the day, is a built out county. There is probably very slim pickings in the county that can satisfy the needs of IKEA so easily and that probably is causing a big issue.

 

But does it have to be built in Cuyahoga County?  Both of Ohio's IKEAs are not in their primary county but in adjacent, growing suburban counties (Butler and Delaware).  Could it not be built in, say, Medina or Lorain County?  I'm not saying it should but Cuyahoga would be an anomaly in this state for the primary county to get one.

 

Every market is a bit different, of course - and while in Columbus, the IKEA sits north - though close to other major shopping areas - and in Cincinnati the IKEA also is north - but between two major metro areas - IKEA is on record in stating that they want a central location for the NEO location - likely taking the east/west Cleveland areas and the southern Akron/Canton markets into consideration. Here's what was said when Elyria pitched a deal after the Brooklyn deal fell through:

 

"Joseph Roth, an Ikea spokesman, said that while the company is still scouting out possible locations in the Cleveland area, it isn’t looking to go too far east or too far west, which makes Lorain County a “pretty unlikely” destination.

 

“We’re looking for something a little more central in the metropolitan area,” he said.

 

Cities from across the region, including from the counties east and west of Cuyahoga County have both reached out to the company since the announcement earlier this month that the Brooklyn land Ikea had been considering was out of the running."

 

http://www.chroniclet.com/news/2016/02/23/Ikea-rep-County-a-bit-too-far-west-for-NE-Ohio-store.html

 

 

IKEA wants to be as close to the core as possible in Cleveland--even if the Pittsburgh and Detroit stores are out in the boonies.

I think a lot of people are missing the point here.  I'm sure Ikea knows a store could be successful in Cleveland.  I imagine a great deal of their discussions revolve around, what will a store in Cleveland do to stores in Columbus or Pittsburgh.  Similar to Crate and Barrel.  Sure, it would succeed in Westlake, but would that cause the demise of Lyndhurst or vice versa. 

 

As far as opening in Medina, heck no.  That would kill either Columbus Ikea or Medina Ikea.  And Streetsboro, that would compete with Pittsburgh.  The last thing a retail entity wants to do is compete amongst themselves.  Too many retail Giants have destroyed they're companies by doing so. 

Actions speak louder than words.

 

IKEA had a very limited financial investment in the Brooklyn site and bailed before the Army Corps even made a decision because they would have had to invest more.

 

Since that time IKEA built a store on Polaris that is situated to attract Cleveland shoppers. A location much like the one in Pittsburgh. Then they claim there are no good retail locations for a store in the metro. Meanwhile, markets half the size of Cleveland are getting IKEA's. It just feels like they have no respect for the NE Ohio retail market. IKEA built your new Cleveland store, it's in Columbus.

 

Cleveland is so overstaturated with retail that Amazon bought Randall Park yet IKEA can't find a site anywhere to suit their needs? Sounds like they are trying string loyal IKEA shoppers along.

 

 

MOST people I know would not drive to columbus or pittsburgh or detroit for an ikea. Ikea would still stand to make more $ by opening a CLE store, even though it may impact Detroit and Pittsburgh (and Columbus if people go there) a tiny bit, as the net number of new customers would be profound. Stores make money on repeat customers. For the 3MM people in CLE, going to a store in CLE could be done every month or so. But those 3MM people, who may drive to Pitts/Detroit for a few items, will do that only when big purchases are needed---thus would bypass the frequent purchases of all the little stuff that Ikea sells plus all that frozen food by the cash registers. In other words, I assume IKEA knows all this, and thus a CLE store is still in their planning.

According to IKEA, 1/3 of the sales at the Pittsburgh store are from NE Ohio. I'm sure Polaris was built in mind to attract more Cleveland shoppers as well. Why would IKEA canabalize these stores when they can sucker so many Clevelanders to drive? They're actions over the last 3 years are screaming this is what they want. There's no site in all of NE Ohio to build an IKEA? Meanwhile they're starting to build second stores in markets Cleveland's size? C'mon.

 

IKEA doesn't respect the market, why do Clevelanders invest in them? They are "trolling" Cleveland big time.

To people from other countries all of Ohio is Cleveland

I have no desire to be the last city to get an Ikea anyway.  If this were 10 or 15 years ago, sure.  But much like Ohio's late arrival to casinos it's just too late to be a draw beyond our region in any significant way.  A Cleveland Ikea will not pull any new dollars from other metros, so what's the fuss, outside of Ikea loyalist upset at the drive to Pitt or Cbus. 

 

I think Ikea has peaked anyway, at least in the big box form.  I'd rather see us get the first Ikea "mini store on main street" in a development like FEB, or in a historic building in Lakewood or something.  THAT would be unique.  Here's an article on Ikea trying out this format in the UK, Norway and other EU locales:

 

http://money.cnn.com/2015/11/17/news/companies/ikea-store-london-click-and-collect/index.html

It will keep money IN the CLE metro and introduce untold numbers to IKEA for the first time. I have spent thousands of $ at IKEA in the last 20 years on my now college senior's room, including hundreds of $last week in Pittsburgh (which was slammed...) - and many hundreds more $ on the way when taking her east to school/her first apartment this week. Wish I could have spent that in CLE,for easier transport/decisions, etc...  Pretty much every bit of bedroom furniture and bedding and rugs and storage and knick knacks for her 21 years has been from IKEA. There is a reason they are popular, whether it is everyone's thing or not. C'mon Garfield Heights.

I have no desire to be the last city to get an Ikea anyway.  If this were 10 or 15 years ago, sure.  But much like Ohio's late arrival to casinos it's just too late to be a draw beyond our region in any significant way.  A Cleveland Ikea will not pull any new dollars from other metros, so what's the fuss, outside of Ikea loyalist upset at the drive to Pitt or Cbus. 

 

I think Ikea has peaked anyway, at least in the big box form.  I'd rather see us get the first Ikea "mini store on main street" in a development like FEB, or in a historic building in Lakewood or something.  THAT would be unique.  Here's an article on Ikea trying out this format in the UK, Norway and other EU locales:

 

http://money.cnn.com/2015/11/17/news/companies/ikea-store-london-click-and-collect/index.html

 

 

yeah, that would be fine. thats the next thing in retail anyway. the amazon locker shops are setting the pace. you just don't need a big box showroom for that kind of merch when nowadays you have 360 views of products online. you just need a place to pick up and return things. same for groceries. i'm not sold on that kind of concept for clothes though.

 

^you can't buy furniture by looking online. You can't see the real finish quality or stability. Take IKEA, for example---some stuff looks great online---when I went to check it out--I didn't like it. I'd rather have a full-sized Ikea here than some smaller, lesser version.

^ well you can probably buy most of what ikea offers by looking at it online, but yeah not all of it. if these new ikea mini stores are anything like amazon locker rooms, or maybe an even better example is actually bonobos (where they keep one of every item on hand), or something like that, you can get to see it in person or they can get it for you and you can take it back. i think that is the idea anyway. who knows if it works in the long run and how these changes in retail plays out?

Recent court filings show something is stirring at Interstate 480 and Transportation Boulevard in Garfield Heights: https://t.co/TpnYsdftJn

Here's Michelle's story from today about the Transportation Blvd/480 NW corner Bridgeview land finally approved to change hands - in as little as a week or so... Perhaps we'll hear more soon...

 

http://realestate.cleveland.com/realestate-news/2017/09/bridgeview_crossing_site_in_ga.html

 

Keep an eye on this development  :wink:

 

http://realestate.cleveland.com/realestate-news/2017/09/bridgeview_crossing_site_in_ga.html#comments

Can we modify the title of this thread?

 

December 10, 2017 4:00 am

Stalled Garfield Heights project could get new life

By STAN BULLARD 

 

Grand plans are starting to circulate over and near the massive, long-stalled Bridgeview Crossing shopping center site on the northwest corner of Transportation Boulevard and I-480.

 

The Ohio Department of Transportation plans to award a contract for about $5 million for a contractor to next year widen the Transportation Avenue bridge over I-480 with an additional lane. Other measures will widen the street and exits from the highway to the bridge, as well as widening part of Transportation Avenue. The changes abut and will connect to a new road leading to the 70-plus acre site, where structural steel for stores in the 800,000-square-foot shopping center has been rusting since work stopped in 2008.

 

MORE:

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20171210/news/145116/stalled-garfield-heights-project-could-get-new-life

Can we modify the title of this thread?

 

 

I agree.  Also, can we lose the word "Superstore"?  It's unnecessary as all Ikeas are superstores. 

I hate to bring a thread back to life when there's no news, but another Atlanta location was just announced this week for IKEA.  So I did a little research and it looks like a location will open in Milwaukee this coming Spring.  I think it might be safe to say IKEA may never come to Cleveland.  They have been looking for locations in Cleveland for 12 years, but nothing has come to fruition in that time.  There are multiple sites in Cleveland they can go after.  I wonder what makes Cleveland an outlier to IKEA?  A bad economy?  Declining population?  Just seems odd. 

^Maybe just a larger percentage of people with good taste than other cities. ;)

Can we modify the title of this thread?

 

 

I agree.  Also, can we lose the word "Superstore"?  It's unnecessary as all Ikeas are superstores. 

 

 

yeah agree, that term lol, but not all ikeas are superstores anymore though. it looks like there are about 50 small ikeas. also, click and collect pickups and occasional pop-ups.

 

who knows, but probably a lot more modifed types of outlets to come too, given the state of retail these days.

 

if would be great if some click and collects would at least open in the region, then you wouldn't have to drag the bigger stuff across the state to get it home.

I hate to bring a thread back to life when there's no news, but another Atlanta location was just announced this week for IKEA.  So I did a little research and it looks like a location will open in Milwaukee this coming Spring.  I think it might be safe to say IKEA may never come to Cleveland.  They have been looking for locations in Cleveland for 12 years, but nothing has come to fruition in that time.  There are multiple sites in Cleveland they can go after.  I wonder what makes Cleveland an outlier to IKEA?  A bad economy?  Declining population?  Just seems odd. 

I really don't think it's how Ikea would perform in Cleveland, rather how would a Cleveland store effect Columbus and Pittsburgh.  With a Columbus store on the North end of that metro, and Pittsburgh store on the north end of that metro, that would put three stores in potentially too close proximity for their liking.  And who knows what those stores balance sheets look like.  Maybe they're not strong enough to take the blow of Clevelander's gaining their own location. 

I hate to bring a thread back to life when there's no news, but another Atlanta location was just announced this week for IKEA.  So I did a little research and it looks like a location will open in Milwaukee this coming Spring.  I think it might be safe to say IKEA may never come to Cleveland.  They have been looking for locations in Cleveland for 12 years, but nothing has come to fruition in that time.  There are multiple sites in Cleveland they can go after.  I wonder what makes Cleveland an outlier to IKEA?  A bad economy?  Declining population?  Just seems odd. 

I really don't think it's how Ikea would perform in Cleveland, rather how would a Cleveland store effect Columbus and Pittsburgh.  With a Columbus store on the North end of that metro, and Pittsburgh store on the north end of that metro, that would put three stores in potentially too close proximity for their liking.  And who knows what those stores balance sheets look like.  Maybe they're not strong enough to take the blow of Clevelander's gaining their own location. 

 

I agree with MissinOhio. Something is very strange when it comes to Cleveland and Ikea. Sure, CLE would impact columbus, Pit, and Detroit sales, but the loss at those three stores would be made up significantly by the huge volume coming from the 3MM local shoppers in the 7-counties surrounding Cleveland. And besides the Columbus (especially) and PIT (i think) are fairly new, so CLE could have been built before those two cities. It is something. Population is stagnant, but still very large (3MM) and bigger than Pit or Columbus. and even though stagnant, spending power has steadily increased over 30 years. So what is it? Cleveland's big bad reputation? That Columbus got a store and Cleveland didn't is a real FU to Cleveland by Ikea. Is that fueling a lack of cooperation or just general disgust from Cleveland towards Ikea? Do some decision makers at Ikea have some personal issues/problems with the city that is affecting their business judgement? 

I hate to bring a thread back to life when there's no news, but another Atlanta location was just announced this week for IKEA.  So I did a little research and it looks like a location will open in Milwaukee this coming Spring.  I think it might be safe to say IKEA may never come to Cleveland.  They have been looking for locations in Cleveland for 12 years, but nothing has come to fruition in that time.  There are multiple sites in Cleveland they can go after.  I wonder what makes Cleveland an outlier to IKEA?  A bad economy?  Declining population?  Just seems odd. 

I really don't think it's how Ikea would perform in Cleveland, rather how would a Cleveland store effect Columbus and Pittsburgh.  With a Columbus store on the North end of that metro, and Pittsburgh store on the north end of that metro, that would put three stores in potentially too close proximity for their liking.  And who knows what those stores balance sheets look like.  Maybe they're not strong enough to take the blow of Clevelander's gaining their own location. 

 

And I have thought about that as well, and you would think it would make some sense until you look at other areas.  I know people in the Youngstown area that go to Cleveland more than Pittsburgh just based off the fact that they are in Youngstown's northern suburbs.  Plus you have Canton, Akron, and basically the rest of NEO that could do their shopping at IKEA in Cleveland.  It's easier for people in Sandusky and Ashtabula to head to Cleveland as well.  The other areas I question are Columbus, Cincinnati, and now Indianapolis have their stores.  If you have three stores in those locations, Cleveland certainly makes a good point for having their own store.  I think Cleveland could easily be a draw for people in Erie, Youngstown and Sandusky.  Not to mention NEO's population has been pretty stable over the last couple decades, and NEO seems healthier than Western PA.  Just seems strange that so many other cities (and smaller, too) are getting IKEAs.  IKEA is not a major deal, but as a younger shopping, it's nice to have some options.

I hate to bring a thread back to life when there's no news, but another Atlanta location was just announced this week for IKEA.  So I did a little research and it looks like a location will open in Milwaukee this coming Spring.  I think it might be safe to say IKEA may never come to Cleveland.  They have been looking for locations in Cleveland for 12 years, but nothing has come to fruition in that time.  There are multiple sites in Cleveland they can go after.  I wonder what makes Cleveland an outlier to IKEA?  A bad economy?  Declining population?  Just seems odd. 

I really don't think it's how Ikea would perform in Cleveland, rather how would a Cleveland store effect Columbus and Pittsburgh.  With a Columbus store on the North end of that metro, and Pittsburgh store on the north end of that metro, that would put three stores in potentially too close proximity for their liking.  And who knows what those stores balance sheets look like.  Maybe they're not strong enough to take the blow of Clevelander's gaining their own location. 

 

I agree with MissinOhio. Something is very strange when it comes to Cleveland and Ikea. Sure, CLE would impact columbus, Pit, and Detroit sales, but the loss at those three stores would be made up significantly by the huge volume coming from the 3MM local shoppers in the 7-counties surrounding Cleveland. And besides the Columbus (especially) and PIT (i think) are fairly new, so CLE could have been built before those two cities. It is something. Population is stagnant, but still very large (3MM) and bigger than Pit or Columbus. and even though stagnant, spending power has steadily increased over 30 years. So what is it? Cleveland's big bad reputation? That Columbus got a store and Cleveland didn't is a real FU to Cleveland by Ikea. Is that fueling a lack of cooperation or just general disgust from Cleveland towards Ikea? Do some decision makers at Ikea have some personal issues/problems with the city that is affecting their business judgement? 

 

Pittsburgh's IKEA has been around since the early 90s I believe.  It's located in Robinson Town Centre between the airport and downtown; really nothing special about its location.