LIVE OAK, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, announced that steel framing has progressed far enough that installation of the iconic blue composite panels begins today on its future San Antonio-area store. Installing blue panels is a construction milestone keeping the Live Oak store on track to open Winter 2019.
The 289,000-square-foot future IKEA Live Oak store will reflect the same unique architectural design for which IKEA stores are known worldwide. It will be built on 31 acres at the southwest corner of Interstate 35 and Loop 1604, approximately 15 miles northeast of downtown San Antonio. Tribble & Stephens Construction has been contracted to serve as the construction firm for the IKEA Live Oak site work and store development project.
“Installation of blue panels at the future IKEA Live Oak marks a critical milestone for our construction plans and brings us a step closer to our store opening next winter,” said Lars Petersson, IKEA U.S. president. “We cannot wait to bring customers in the San Antonio area the unique IKEA shopping experience and will begin to transform the interior space over the next few months.”
The future IKEA Live Oak will feature nearly 10,000 exclusively designed items, multiple inspirational room-settings, three model home interiors, a supervised children’s play area, and a restaurant serving Swedish specialties such as meatballs with lingonberries and salmon plates, as well as American dishes. IKEA is also evaluating potential on-site power generation to complement its current U.S. renewable energy presence at 90% of its U.S. locations.
IKEA Live Oak will provide annual sales and property tax revenue for local governments and schools. In addition to the more than 500 jobs that are expected during the construction phase, approximately 250 coworkers will join the IKEA family when the new store opens.
Until the store opens, local customers can shop at the closest IKEA stores in Houston and Round Rock, or online at IKEA-USA.com. In North Texas, there are IKEA stores in Frisco and Grand Prairie.
About IKEA
Since its 1943 founding in Sweden, IKEA has offered home furnishings of good design and function at low prices so the majority of people can afford them. There are currently 419 IKEA stores in 49 countries, including 48 in the U.S. IKEA has been included in rankings of “Best Companies to Work For” and strives to be an employer of choice. IKEA incorporates sustainability into day-to-day business and supports initiatives that benefit children and the environment. For more information see IKEA-USA.com, @IKEAUSA, @IKEAUSANews, or IKEAUSA on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest.
