Ikea, the Scandinavian retail giant, has announced plans to open a new store in Cary, about 12 miles from Raleigh. The site would comprise 15 acres located near Cary Towne Boulevard and I-40. If the plans go through, the Cary store would be the second IKEA in the state.
The proposal calls for a store that offers 359,000 square feet of space, plus a two-story parking garage with 1,000 spaces. The new Ikea could be up and running by Summer 2020, and would employ about 500 people during construction. After the opening, some 300 jobs would be created in the store itself.
Lars Petersson, the U.S. president of Ikea, said the company is excited about potentially opening in Cary, because it has already established a store in Charlotte. Having a second location in the Raleigh area would allow consumers in east and central parts of the state easier access to the store.
Harold Weinbrecht, the mayor of Cary, said he was excited about having Ikea locate a store in the community, because the location is part of a redevelopment project that has been drawing a great deal of attention. Having such a popular retailer move into Cary will be a catalyst for further redevelopment of the area, Weinbrecht believes.
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