Seems like people in OKC are excited by this prospect:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/ikea100518.jpg

Shared it on reddit and it got a ton of positive reaction from people there, too!

KGOU reported on it this morning, crediting OkCTalk.

The OU Daily ran an article and credited OKC Talk but didn't provide a link (which I feel they easily could have).

From Lackmeyer's chat today, funny...

Guest said:
IKEA is coming! is the rumors true?

Steve Lackmeyer replied:
That is not being reported by The Oklahoman.

I mean... "Retail giant Ikea considering a location in North Oklahoma City" (OKC Talk headline) doesn't exactly equal "Ikea is coming".

Yet.

I presume it's a fact that they are considering it, but also a fact that they have not decided for sure to locate here, or the headline would have been different.

In our never-ending quest to be like everyone else, we really must fight to get one of these!

Perhaps that screenshot in post #541 should be sent to the Ikea people!

Hold the phone!! I just spoke with a source who has conformed that IKEA is seriously looking at Oklahoma. BUT he said they have been in contact with Tulsa. He had no knowledge of the Oklahoma City store until he read it yesterday. So it looks like we might have a competition on our hands. Anyway it will be good for the state!

Hold the phone!! I just spoke with a source who has conformed that IKEA is seriously looking at Oklahoma. BUT he said they have been in contact with Tulsa. He had no knowledge of the Oklahoma City store until he read it yesterday. So it looks like we might have a competition on our hands. Anyway it will be good for the state!

Man, I wouldn't care either way, I just want one in OK. I would LOVE for them to come to Tulsa or OKC.

I've always heard Ikea was very mathematical and calculating with their locations, and if thats the case, Tulsa makes more sense to me. Frisco is closer to OKC than Olathe/KC is to Tulsa. Plus Tulsa is much closer other larger metros like Wichita, all of western Arkansas, Joplin area, and OKC. OKC would really only have Lawton and Tulsa.

Not that any of that matters. I just want one in OK. I'm super excited either way.

Lol! Hilarious.

I’m gonna stick with what Pete reported. :-)

Man, I wouldn't care either way, I just want one in OK. I would LOVE for them to come to Tulsa or OKC.

I've always heard Ikea was very mathematical and calculating with their locations, and if thats the case, Tulsa makes more sense to me. Frisco is closer to OKC than Olathe/KC is to Tulsa. Plus Tulsa is much closer other larger metros like Wichita, all of western Arkansas, Joplin area, and OKC. OKC would really only have Lawton and Tulsa.

Not that any of that matters. I just want one in OK. I'm super excited either way.

Wichita is closer to OKC than it is to Tulsa, OKC is at the crossroads of three major interstates, is a good deal larger than Tulsa and is growing at a much faster rate. Not really sure why they would choose Tulsa over OKC based on their other markets.

I know several folks in Amarillo and the surrounding area that would prefer to drive to OKC as opposed to Denver or Dallas for IKEA.

I think the Interstate system is really a pretty good factor for OKC. There are places that are “closer” to the Texas stores,
But it will be faster to drive to OKC.

Good news, my sister will be happy when it is built. She went to the store here in Centennial (Denver) twice while she was up here for my transplant. A couple of days before the OKC news they announced delays with the Broomfield store in the North Denver Metro. They are building a new one for Live Oak, Texas on the north side of San Antonio. When they built the Round Rock store I figured they would go near San Antonio next.
9News - Broomfield IKEA store delayed; no new timeline provided (https://www.9news.com/article/money/business/broomfield-ikea-store-delayed-no-new-timeline-provided/73-600414307)

Store proposed for Cary NC not being built

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article211750844.html

Does anyone know the average land size of Ikea's stores? I don't mean square footage, I know that's around 300,000 sf, I am talking total land use acreage. Might help us narrow down without Pete giving anything away.

I really hope Ikea comes here but I'm so pessimistic right now on big retail and building new brick and mortar stores. I've been to 4 retail conventions this year and just got back from one yesterday and the theme at all of them is with the tariffs and things most companies have really put a hold on their building plans for 2019-2020. Walmarts down to something like 5-15 new stores total next year. Most companies are taking the time to remodel existing stores and start working in online shopping better at existing locations. The return on investment on new properties is just so low right now.

Do people really drive distance to go to ikea? Just doesn’t seem like a destination store to me.

Do people really drive distance to go to ikea? Just doesn’t seem like a destination store to me.

Yes, definitely.

Yes, definitely.

I’m just curious, why?

I’m just curious, why?

+1

Read every reply to every “it’s just crap quality plywood furniture” post in this thread for your answers?

Do people really drive distance to go to ikea? Just doesn’t seem like a destination store to me.

I wouldn't say that I drive out of my way to go there but if we're heading to Dallas we will pretty much always stop at Ikea. We don't really buy any furniture but they have amazing kids cups and plates and silverware and knick knacks for the kids rooms.

I wouldn't say that I drive out of my way to go there but if we're heading to Dallas we will pretty much always stop at Ikea. We don't really buy any furniture but they have amazing kids cups and plates and silverware and knick knacks for the kids rooms.

Well that I get, but at the same time can’t you order that from their site? I understand the notion of wanting the store for variety and their products. But I just don’t see it as a store that someone should drive a whole state over for unless they just got nothing going on and are super bored.

I’m just curious, why?


Our house is filled with Ikea furniture that came primarily from Frisco. As for why? A day trip to Dallas with an SUV makes it easy. Nearly all of their furniture is flat packed, so it's easy to fit in your vehicle (no delivery charges!) Ikea is like a Target, it's almost impossible to leave without getting at least something. We spend about $20-30 on gas, and also can visit other places in the north metroplex.

Ikea's style is usually more contemporary and modern than what can be found on Reno Ave. Ikea does not have pushy sales people that follow you around like vultures, despite ad campaigns saying the stores on Reno don't stalk. You go at your own pace through the store. They have more unique items and storage solutions. The bottom floor is filled with decor and housewares at extremely competitive prices and they offer decor that doesn't have the same three scriptures plastered on every piece in a sans script font.

Our Ikea furniture has held up. Even though we had to assemble most of it, the savings on price and ability to shop for multiple rooms at one time without being followed is a plus. We can get three rooms of furniture for what we would probably pay for one room from a traditional furniture store in OKC.

Depending on where you live in OKC and the look and feel of your dwelling, Ikea may be a much better fit for price and style.

And of course, IKEA has more home accessories than furniture.

Tons and tons of artwork and dinnerware and rugs and on and on. All of it unique to them.

It's just fun to walk through the showrooms, sort through their self-service area and then have a big plate of Swedish meatballs.

And often you can combine visiting the store and ordering online. On one of our last trips we picked up furniture for our kids room in Frisco, and were able to look at different options for our living room storage needs. Once we knew the style and colors we liked, we build the actual cabinet set online and had it delivered.

I’m guessing that they looked at their demand for flat-rate shipping into Oklahoma and noticed that the demand is there.

Agree with posters above. I’ve made a few purposeful trips there myself, and multiple times have made it a stop on other trips. I don’t have a ton of furniture from ther but do have quite a few accessrories, home decor, lighting, strorage stuff. And it’s dead on that while they do offer some cheap dorm-room type furniture that’s only PART of their furniture offerings.

Also, it’s fun to just walk through the store getting ideas. They have lots of innovative solutions, cool vignettes that show how easy it is to live in limited space (has made me interested in tiny houses) and just an all around interesting experience. I don’t get the hate. Don’t go there if you don’t like the idea of it. Thing is, if you went anyway you probably wouldn’t hate it so much. Or at all.

All of my bedroom and office furniture came from Ikea. I love how you can configure things. I have some cube storage units that I can have open, add drawers, or add solid or glass doors. I have a dressers that have held up very well. I've had my office furniture for 5 years and it also is holding up well with daily use. I have also bought rugs, likitchen supplies, and decorations. They have a HUGE lighting section with great prices too.

I definitely will go if one comes to OKC. And if there is ever one close to where I am I might pop in. But we are more traditional furniture people anyways so style isn’t much we care for. I do like the accessories that’s what I’ve shopped there for before.

We generally hit up Ikea when we are back in KC visiting friends. I would say there is a huge gulf in enjoyment of the experience between those that try to take their kids and those that don't. Don't. Take. Kids.

The percentage of furniture and accessories in my home that is sourced from Ikea has risen steadily over the years. I was anti-Ikea at first because I enjoy more of a traditional look than modern, and all I had ever seen of Ikea was weirdo light fixtures that looked like stacked white solo cups. It took a couple times convincing that there was a lot more to be had than just modern euro flat filler. We just got a sectional and a couple wingback chairs to re-do the living room that we love, and the only reason we were able to was because of the relative inexpensiveness, and this is for pretty good furniture. Especially since we have young kids, we aren't going all out on expensive stuff, but these pieces should hold up for a while.

Something nobody has mentioned yet, but Ikea has really good, really cheap house plants. We bought a few last time we were there for a fraction of what they cost at Lowes/TLC just to green up the indoors.

To speak on the destination store bit. Last time I was at the Frisco store, I counted probably 5 or 6 tour buses arrive and unload tourists, most of which looked to be from Southeast Asia. These buses were either just pulling in or just unloading as we were parking. They were still there after we left, which we ourselves were there for about 2 hours. Now I know OKC doesn't have the same tourist draw like the DFW area, this store is way up in Frisco meaning people coming from DFW had to take a bus and IKEA was their destination.

Went to the Milwaukee store this weekend. I understand that some people don't "get" IKEA, but you have to admit it is a truly one-of-a-kind shopping experience in America. Huge store, inexpensive items, casino-like navigation where you have to go through the whole store to leave, pretty good restaurant on-site (meatballs, chocolate bars!), free child care, etc. No other retailer has copied them after all these years.

Went to the Milwaukee store this weekend. I understand that some people don't "get" IKEA, but you have to admit it is a truly one-of-a-kind shopping experience in America. Huge store, inexpensive items, casino-like navigation where you have to go through the whole store to leave, pretty good restaurant on-site (meatballs, chocolate bars!), free child care, etc. No other retailer has copied them after all these years.

Whoa - I didn't realize Milwaukee had an IKEA now! I lived there 2009-2012 and drove to Chicago a few times to get furniture, etc. That's a huge get for Milwaukee. Have a spotted cow for me!

Hate to burst anyone's bubble; however this source was published October 4, 2018.

IKEA calls report they are coming to OKC area 'purely speculation: http://www.oudaily.com/news/ikea-calls-report-they-are-coming-to-okc-area-purely/article_c8d150a4-c7eb-11e8-a929-63fdd13877e5.html

Does anyone have any updates on IDEA considering OKC?

Hate to burst anyone's bubble; however this source was published October 4, 2018.

IKEA calls report they are coming to OKC area 'purely speculation' : http://www.oudaily.com/news/ikea-calls-report-they-are-coming-to-okc-area-purely/article_c8d150a4-c7eb-11e8-a929-63fdd13877e5.html

Does anyone have any updates on IDEA considering OKC?

well of course it is purely speculation... they aren't going to comment on anything until they are ready to make a move publicly.

^

This is standard non-denial denial. Of course it's speculation and of course they have not announced an OKC location yet.

I can 100% assure you that they are actively negotiating for an OKC location, which is exactly what was reported.


This kind of thing has been published by competitors regarding Trader Joe's, H&M, Costco, Amazon and virtually every other story we've scooped them on.

^

This is standard non-denial denial. Of course it's speculation and of course they have not announced an OKC location yet.

I can 100% assure you that they are actively negotiating for an OKC location, which is exactly what was reported.


This kind of thing has been published by competitors regarding Trader Joe's, H&M, Costco, Amazon and virtually every other story we've scooped them on.

atleast OU daily gives credit! better than can be said for others

^

This is standard non-denial denial. Of course it's speculation and of course they have not announced an OKC location yet.

I can 100% assure you that they are actively negotiating for an OKC location, which is exactly what was reported.


This kind of thing has been published by competitors regarding Trader Joe's, H&M, Costco, Amazon and virtually every other story we've scooped them on.

Let's hope this is the case. Why OU Daily would report this is a 'head scratch-er' with much dandruff & snow flakes on my parade.

atleast OU daily gives credit! better than can be said for others

This is true.

If I was being less nice I would say all this sort of thing proves is that the person and publication doing the report just sucks at their job.

This is true.

If I was being less nice I would say all this sort of thing proves is that the person and publication doing the report just sucks at their job.

but they sent an e-mail that they probably got through the corporate website "contact us" link, and filled out the form and decided to just post the corporate response... i mean that's investigative journalism right???

Christine Soner, IKEA product placement specialist, has informed The Daily in an email that though IKEA is always looking for new opportunities to expand, they have not announced plans for a store in Oklahoma City and that it is "purely speculation."

Well, nobody has claimed that they announced plans for a store here. Just that they are in the preliminary stages and are looking.

The robust economy won't make it through next year. I know that's spec on my part, but the signs are there. Because of this I don't see this coming to fruition just like a lot of other projects...cool downtown condos, etc.

The robust economy won't make it through next year. I know that's spec on my part, but the signs are there. Because of this I don't see this coming to fruition just like a lot of other projects...cool downtown condos, etc.

Well aren't you Mr. Sunshine and Rainbows...the economy has diversified a lot since the last oil price drop. But since you are the life of the party, you already knew that.

Well aren't you Mr. Sunshine and Rainbows...the economy has diversified a lot since the last oil price drop. But since you are the life of the party, you already knew that.

ooops, I mean the US economy. Worse than '08.

ooops, I mean the US economy. Worse than '08.

Ah, ok. I can see that, then! Haha! Hopefully not worse than 08.

The robust economy won't make it through next year. I know that's spec on my part, but the signs are there. Because of this I don't see this coming to fruition just like a lot of other projects...cool downtown condos, etc.

Well we're well overdue for a significant market correction. I'm in the construction industry and we're planning for a recession in 2019-22. If a project doesn't get off the ground by mid-next year it will probably be 5+ years out. The only difference in OKC could be if oil prices shoot up like they did last time and buoy the local economy for a couple years before the next inevitable crash.

I dont think it would be as dire as 08, but we are overdue for a correction. Higher interest rates is soaking up that sugar money. We saw the first signs of the market projectile vomiting yesterday because of this.

I wish you were right on not being worse than '08, but it will be worse, unfortunately. Let's hope you're right!

so anyways. back to the subject... so Ikea is looking per Pete's sources, and Ikea isn't ready to announce that yet. hopefully the talks finish up and are positive and they announce soon.

even if they WERENT ready before, it's only a matter of time before IKEA comes to OKC.

remember how there was the rule of thumb that a metro area needed to be 2m to get one? Well, all of the 2m metro areas have one and now they're coming to those 1.5m and greater. OKC has 1.4m as of last year, so this is right about time for an IKEA to be announced here within the next year.

Totally can accept Pete's claim that they're looking, OKC is big enough and their criteria has relaxed a little bit. An OKC IKEA would kill it in that it would be 200 miles from either existing one in KC or DFW, and would capture this otherwise dead-man's market. IMO, OKC should have been an option before now due to this reason but anyway - better now than never. ..

I had some IKEA furniture delivered yesterday. IKEA contracts with local logistics companies throughout the area. The driver told me his company alone has two trucks and makes about 20 deliveries per truck a day from IKEA Monday-Thursday in OKC alone. That seemed like quite a bit to me, and probably just one reason why they're considering us.

even if they WERENT ready before, it's only a matter of time before IKEA comes to OKC.

remember how there was the rule of thumb that a metro area needed to be 2m to get one? Well, all of the 2m metro areas have one and now they're coming to those 1.5m and greater. OKC has 1.4m as of last year, so this is right about time for an IKEA to be announced here within the next year.

Totally can accept Pete's claim that they're looking, OKC is big enough and their criteria has relaxed a little bit. An OKC IKEA would kill it in that it would be 200 miles from either existing one in KC or DFW, and would capture this otherwise dead-man's market. IMO, OKC should have been an option before now due to this reason but anyway - better now than never. ..

I agree, their guidelines have been more relaxed and they are expanding in existing markets now. San Antonio is getting one soon (almost done), and Dallas just opened their 2nd location in Arlington not long ago. It's just a matter of time before OKC gets one to service OKC, Tulsa, Wichita & Amarillo markets.

even if they WERENT ready before, it's only a matter of time before IKEA comes to OKC.

remember how there was the rule of thumb that a metro area needed to be 2m to get one? Well, all of the 2m metro areas have one and now they're coming to those 1.5m and greater. OKC has 1.4m as of last year, so this is right about time for an IKEA to be announced here within the next year.

Totally can accept Pete's claim that they're looking, OKC is big enough and their criteria has relaxed a little bit. An OKC IKEA would kill it in that it would be 200 miles from either existing one in KC or DFW, and would capture this otherwise dead-man's market. IMO, OKC should have been an option before now due to this reason but anyway - better now than never. ..

Good optimism by many of the previous posts; just want to inject this note about market size & stores:

The nearest stores are Dallas, Kansas City & Memphis more than 200-300-400 miles away respectively. IKEA have penetrated all markets with 2 million+ MSA population or more. They are now looking at markets below 1.5 million; Memphis has a store, their MSA is slightly smaller than OKC's. OKC MSA has a faster growth rate than Memphis by +8.67.

Just a matter of time...


2017 Population estimates:
2017 2010
41 Oklahoma City, OK MSA 1,383,737 1,252,987 +10.44%
42 Memphis, TN-MS-AR MSA 1,348,260 1,324,829 +1.77%

Tulsa's market is 91 miles from OKC via the Turner Turnpike, a potential market that could benefit from an OKC store.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/21/business/ikea-layoffs/index.html

This would seem to suggest that IKEA will be more picky when it comes to site selection in the future and will be downsizing the size of any new stores. Their feeling the heat from the online world.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/21/business/ikea-layoffs/index.html

This would seem to suggest that IKEA will be more picky when it comes to site selection in the future and will be downsizing the size of any new stores. Their feeling the heat from the online world.

or will focus more on the US than in European expansion, as they predict less than 75 of the 7500 layoffs will be in the US.

IKEA is still interested in OKC, just taking their time.

My sources tell me they are in active negotiations but no commitment as of yet and there is no set timetable for making a decision.

My partner works in a higher position within Chisholm Creek, and he knows one of the leaders behind the development of Chisholm Creek. I have asked him if he knows anything about IKEA coming, and he has told me time and time again that they are still in talks, but being super hush about the whole situation. The last time I asked he said he was told that no more info could be given out at this current time. Not sure what this means, but it sounds exciting??

yes it does sound exciting. Imagine Chisholm with Costco, Sams Club, and Ikea - pretty much all of your destination big box shopping needs not to mention the quality adds in the 'new' shopping district.

I predict fewer and fewer trips needed for OKC residents to outside metros like DFW and TUL.

If OKC does get an IKEA, I really hope it’s not at Chisholm Creek. My understanding has always been that’s supposed to eventually be a walkable, urbanism neighborhood. Putting a massive, massive big box right in the middle of it with the acres and acres of parking it would need would completely kill the vibe.