I believe I heard IKEA is putting a store in Jacksonville, a city about as close to OKC as you can get.

I believe I heard IKEA is putting a store in Jacksonville, a city about as close to OKC as you can get.

You heard right. IKEA coming to Jacksonville in fall 2017 (http://www.firstcoastnews.com/story/news/local/consumer/2015/10/07/ikea-to-announce-new-store-in-jacksonville/73501610/)

The new IKEA in Grand Prairie is about 20 minutes from my house...woo! I don't have to drive across the metroplex to Frisco anymore for the $1 breakfast ;)

With Memphis getting one, OKC is certainly possible. I also think this is a retailer that will see OKC's larger market size as preferable over Tulsa's concentrated demographics.

I wonder if the fact that the Tulsa-OKC distance being 100 miles effects these decisions? If so, they're looking at approximately 2.4 million people (approximate est. 1.4 in OKC and just under 1 in Tulsa) that they can potentially reach in a 100 mile stretch.

Anyway, Tulsa seems like it could be the "type" of city to get an IKEA first (we did get the TJ and Costco announcements first), but if they operated purely on population then we obviously know that goes to OKC. I'd be excited either way because IKEA is really talked up by those who've been there.
And you know I'm all about the diversity and market choice.

Anyway, Tulsa seems like it could be the "type" of city to get an IKEA first (we did get the TJ and Costco announcements first), but if they operated purely on population then we obviously know that goes to OKC. I'd be excited either way because IKEA is really talked up by those who've been there.
And you know I'm all about the diversity and market choice.

The attributes that make Tulsa more attractive to national retailers than OKC probably wouldn't be as applicable for IKEA as they are for Costco and Trader Joe's. IKEA is a destination store and looks at overall market size and demographics rather than the number of high-income rooftops within a 5-10-15 mile radius. Hopefully this means if IKEA came to Oklahoma it would come to OKC and not Tulsa. If IKEA does come to Oklahoma, it will likely only open one store, so if they choose Tulsa, OKC will probably never get one and vice versa.

As much as I'd like the convenience. Tulsa makes more sense from a business perspective. This grants access to the northern Arkansas market. Fayetteville and Ft. Smith.

Memphis has hit a snag over property valuations. The city says the land is valued around $1.7 million. The county assessor has it at almost $6 million. Will interesting to see how that plays out.

OKC would be the best place for Ikea. Right where the old AMC flea market on NW 10th and Penn was. This is not a high dollar type furniture store for the Well To Do's.

OKC would be the best place for Ikea. Right where the old AMC flea market on NW 10th and Penn was. This is not a high dollar type furniture store for the Well To Do's.

OKCRT,
There's a slight problem with that location, it now is the new home for the Salvation Army. I don't know if they occupy the whole corner though, so maybe it's possible.
C. T.

They have recently announced the intent to also build stores in Jacksonville, FL and Grand Prarie, TX. If you're counting, that makes two locations in the DFW metroplex.

They have recently announced the intent to also build stores in Jacksonville, FL and Grand Prarie, TX. If you're counting, that makes two locations in the DFW metroplex.

Yes, the Grand Prairie location has been discussed here previously.

I guess I would much rather see a Nebraska Furniture Mart built here in OKC, than an IKEA. I understand the draw for some people to IKEA, but it really is just cheap "dorm room" type furniture. Ikea has brand recognition, but as far as actual offerings...I'm not sure there's really that much to get excited about.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This

IKEA isn't limited to just furniture, though. They're really a home store. They also sell all sorts of housewares, as well as kitchen cabinets, sinks, appliances, bedding, toys... And some of their items come with pretty substantial warranties too. If you don't think there's a lot to get excited about, you've probably never walked through an IKEA showroom.

While most of their furniture isn't solid wood, it's still much better quality than the pressboard flat-pack furniture from Walmart or Target, and usually at about the same price too. It's also more fashion-forward than most other flat-pack furniture retailers, too.

Now, I wouldn't call IKEA a game changer if we landed one. But they are economic powerhouses pretty much anywhere they go, and they would do a LOT of business here - so they would be a welcome addition to our city.

I disagree. IKEA IS a game changer. For those with mid century modern taste and the ability to assemble it. It's got some of the best looking stuff anywhere. Their modular kitchens are stunning. The lighting is crazy cheap and striking. They've always had premium stuff but recently they've upped their game with modular knoll style leather sofas. My last haul came up with a bunch of solid wood framed eames style seating and a $1000 solid oak bed, which despite the price is a massive value.

Another great thing that comes with a home town ikea is CONTRACTORS! You sit with the contractor, get dimensions and utility locations, then head to ikea and sit with the salesperson/room designer. You pick out your kitchen, bath, bedroom, walkin closet, etc. ikea decides what size you need and where it can fit, ikea delivers it. The contractor assembles and hangs it in a day. I did an ikea kitchen in a rental property, for less than the quotes just to refinish the cabinets and install a granite counter cover to do a whole kitchen, top to bottom + new SS appliances and solid wood baker block counters.

I'm starting to sound like a fanboy here but it's just so SO much more than billy shelves and meatballs.

OKC would be the best place for Ikea. Right where the old AMC flea market on NW 10th and Penn was. This is not a high dollar type furniture store for the Well To Do's.

I think every IKEA I've ever seen has been in the 'Burbs. About zero chance they would move in at 10th and Penn.

My guess would be between Moore and Norman, or somewhere along Memorial. Most IKEAs are in the burbs and that's really where it belongs.

I think every IKEA I've ever seen has been in the 'Burbs. About zero chance they would move in at 10th and Penn.

There's an urban IKEA in south Philly on the river. It's not downtown, but it's in the city.

My guess would be between Moore and Norman, or somewhere along Memorial. Most IKEAs are in the burbs and that's really where it belongs.

If the OKC market is the only consideration, I feel like the ideal spot for IKEA would be Norman on the 24th street development. But for them to get the maximum value, it would at least have to be in the Memorial corridor so they could grab Tulsa and Arkansas markets. And I think it's a total misconception to say that IKEA is a cheap store. Yes it is very budget friendly, but IKEA's brand is about maximizing space in a very stylish and affordable way. Their closet, office, and kitchen systems are incredible, especially if you hate clutter. It's great for kids rooms, and there are plenty of well off people that shop at IKEA because it's an awesome value.

And as nice as it would be for Nebraska Furniture Mart to come to OKC, looking at their website, I just see more Mathis Brothers furniture, albeit probably better quality, but there is nothing in this market that comes close to what IKEA offers.

I think in an older area near downtown would be perfect for OKC. I think that's what they did in Stl. It would serve the whole city. Put that in Norman or Edmond and many potential customers would prob. not shop there. Put it in a central location and serve all the masses. Plus it could and prob. would vitalize an area that needs it much more than Memorial Rd or 24th in Norman.

I seen a house that had been remodeled inside and out with IKEA everywhere , very modern. It's middle of the road IMO. Not bad at all but not upper end. Would be a good fit for OKC.

I think in an older area near downtown would be perfect for OKC. I think that's what they did in Stl. It would serve the whole city. Put that in Norman or Edmond and many potential customers would prob. not shop there. Put it in a central location and serve all the masses. Plus it could and prob. would vitalize an area that needs it much more than Memorial Rd or 24th in Norman.

Only place near downtown I can maybe see it is along Reno between I-235 and MLK. Other than that, I would prefer it not go downtown simply because their standard big box format would detract from the urban fabric and hinder walkability. Of course they could make it urban but I really don't see them doing that in a market like OKC.

Another perfect type of spot would have been where the Sams is going in at the old Lynn Hickey dealership. That type of area would just be the perfect place for a store like this IMO. I think IKEA would really do well in OKC and they would no doubt draw well from Tulsa and Wichita. There are plenty of people in OKC area that drive down to Dallas for no other reason than to shop the IKEA. I am also pretty sure Mathis Bros would oppose it with all their might.:)

If the OKC market is the only consideration, I feel like the ideal spot for IKEA would be Norman on the 24th street development. But for them to get the maximum value, it would at least have to be in the Memorial corridor so they could grab Tulsa and Arkansas markets. And I think it's a total misconception to say that IKEA is a cheap store. Yes it is very budget friendly, but IKEA's brand is about maximizing space in a very stylish and affordable way. Their closet, office, and kitchen systems are incredible, especially if you hate clutter. It's great for kids rooms, and there are plenty of well off people that shop at IKEA because it's an awesome value.

And as nice as it would be for Nebraska Furniture Mart to come to OKC, looking at their website, I just see more Mathis Brothers furniture, albeit probably better quality, but there is nothing in this market that comes close to what IKEA offers.

IKEA is a destination store. People would go anywhere in the Metro for it. Look at were the current DFW one is, way up north in Frisco, but it is always packed. I know when they built in Cincinnati way up in a Northern Burb, I knew a ton of people who drove in from Kentucky and downtown for it.

Really I see Tulsa being a better spot for them. Because people from OKC would still go there, plus they'd get NW Arkansas. In OKC, it probably wouldn't get much from Arkansas, Wichita is just a little further from Tulsa. And that would be a store more in between the DFW and KC stores, where OKC wouldn't split the gap as well.

My girlfriend works at IKEA Portland. People drive up to 3 hours to that store. Just FYI.

IKEA is a destination store. People would go anywhere in the Metro for it. Look at were the current DFW one is, way up north in Frisco, but it is always packed. I know when they built in Cincinnati way up in a Northern Burb, I knew a ton of people who drove in from Kentucky and downtown for it.

Really I see Tulsa being a better spot for them. Because people from OKC would still go there, plus they'd get NW Arkansas. In OKC, it probably wouldn't get much from Arkansas, Wichita is just a little further from Tulsa. And that would be a store more in between the DFW and KC stores, where OKC wouldn't split the gap as well.

Oklahoma City is pretty culturally tied to the Fort Smith, Arkansas area. People in that part of Arkansas probably go to Oklahoma City more than they do Little Rock.

I don't think IKEA will end up in Tulsa because of their small market size. A lot of retailers that choose Tulsa over OKC do so because of concentrated income but I don't believe that is as much of a factor for IKEA as it is for Costco or other higher end grocery stores or department stores. An OKC location would draw from Tulsa, Wichita, Amarillo, and Ft Smith, AR. Remember that Bentonville, AR is 3 hours from Kansas City so people in the NWA market will probably go there.

I guess I didn't realize that the Bentonville area was only 3 hours from KC. Excluding Amarillo, I think anyone that would come to OKC would go to Tulsa, and Tulsa is much closer to the Arkansas crowd. Regardless I don't see either city getting an IKEA any time soon, but you never know.

IKEA officially announces new Grand Prairie, TX store opening fall of 2017.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/about_ikea/newsitem/092216_IKEA_Grand_Prairie_hires_contractors

So they decided to go to the complete opposite end of town. For the DFW area, it makes sense though. If you live on the Frisco side, you NEVER go to the south side, and vice versa. That hour drive between the two areas might as well be 8 hours.

But i dont think you're going to see one in OKC unless we can triple our population.

Frisco remains the closer, easier location for my lovely, unless tying an Ikea shopping trip for her (and a meal/nap for me) with a performance at Bass Hall in FW that night or the night before. Then the Grand Prairie location will make more sense once it opens.

Not sure if/when Ikea comes to OK more than one trunk or truckload at a time. Not soon enough for my lovely though.

My girlfriend works at IKEA Portland. People drive up to 3 hours to that store. Just FYI.

They recently announced a second store in the Denver area. I don't understand the appeal. It's a European Walmart. Poor quality merchandise destined for the apartment dumpster within a year.

There is a lot more available than starving student/artist furniture.

They recently announced a second store in the Denver area. I don't understand the appeal. It's a European Walmart. Poor quality merchandise destined for the apartment dumpster within a year.

I've been using my bed from IKEA for 5 years now with no problems. It was inexpensive, but a modern design that I wanted. It's not for everyone, but I've been satisfied.

IKEA is a healthy mix of cheap particle board furniture that will not survive the first time you move it from one side of the room to the other, and solid wood furniture that will last you decades.

I like the modern look of most of their stuff, but the main selling point is the customization and efficient use of space that I get with a lot of their stuff.

I get most of my furniture at IKEA. Some stuff is super cheap but some other stuff is actually surprisingly well built and sturdy. Either way, I love the modern style.

Glad to hear of a second store in denver.

IKEA is a healthy mix of cheap particle board furniture that will not survive the first time you move it from one side of the room to the other, and solid wood furniture that will last you decades.

Not trying to argue that IKEA has the best quality, but I have moved three times and re-arranged the room a couple other times with my IKEA bed. Again, no problems.

Our daughter's first bedroom is IKEA, and I don't doubt it will last her until she's a teenager. It felt super solid and sturdy when we put her bed and dressers together.

The $30 shelf for the plastic containers for her toys almost broke while be put it together though. ��

The Swedish particle board furniture goes together and looks better than the Chinese particle board furniture you buy at Walmart. Obviously, real wood will last a lot longer, but it will cost you and its heavy when you want to move it.

Its far more enjoyable putting together IKEA furniture. The pre-drilled holes line up, what a concept!

Here here for Ikea furniture holding up well. I've moved an apartment's-worth of Ikea furniture three times, including once in the back of a U-Haul from NYC to OKC and twice within OKC and it's held up better than I could have imagined. Virtually all of my Ikea furniture is of the particle board variety as well.

It's a European Walmart. Poor quality merchandise destined for the apartment dumpster within a year.

This is literally so far from the truth. Have you even been in an IKEA? Forget the regular furniture, which by the way has lasted in my in-laws house for 20 years. But their closet, kitchen, and office systems are incomparable at the price points. Same with their kids stuff.

I mean, god forbid that we have options other than Mathis Brothers, Mathis Brothers sleep store, Mathis Brother's lite (Ashley Home Store), and Stuff that didn't fit on Mathis Brother's Show Room (all the other stores on Portland).

How about Ikea in the old Macy's space at QSM? It helps the mall and it's a ready made store. Nothing to build. It's also right in the middle of their demographic.

How about Ikea in the old Macy's space at QSM? It helps the mall and it's a ready made store. Nothing to build. It's also right in the middle of their demographic.

It would have to be a really small IKEA. Their stores are usually gigantic.

I think both levels of the old Macy's store might just be about equal to the usual square footage of the downstairs "store" at an IKEA. And that's without the restaurant, the huge showroom, and the picking area.

The IKEAs they have built in the new markets are slightly smaller, but not by much.

nvm

IKEA announces new North Ft. Worth location.

http://www.star-telegram.com/news/business/article131640899.html

That article was pretty poorly written. This article is for the 3rd!!!!! store in the DFW area. The Grand Prairie one is the second (on the north side) and then the Alliance one will be on the west (but still north-ish).

FYI if you're super familiar with the area, it's south of both the Texas Speedway and Alliance cargo airport....just a bit north of 820.

3 freaking Ikea's in the DFW area and we still can't manage to get one in OK anywhere huh.....

yeah, I am now expecting to hear very soon that either they just relaxed their business model, so we'll eventually get one by default, or there's some other factor that rules us out permanently,

That article was pretty poorly written. This article is for the 3rd!!!!! store in the DFW area. The Grand Prairie one is the second (on the north side) and then the Alliance one will be on the west (but still north-ish).

FYI if you're super familiar with the area, it's south of both the Texas Speedway and Alliance cargo airport....just a bit north of 820.

3 freaking Ikea's in the DFW area and we still can't manage to get one in OK anywhere huh.....

May have to do with 7+ million people in DFW area and less than 4 million in all of Oklahoma. Let's be generous to say OKC has 1.4 million, so proportionately, DFW would get 5 for one for us. Given that logistics is easier when stores are nested, it's no wonder they get multiple before we get one.

That article was pretty poorly written. This article is for the 3rd!!!!! store in the DFW area. The Grand Prairie one is the second (on the north side) and then the Alliance one will be on the west (but still north-ish).

FYI if you're super familiar with the area, it's south of both the Texas Speedway and Alliance cargo airport....just a bit north of 820.

3 freaking Ikea's in the DFW area and we still can't manage to get one in OK anywhere huh.....

The Grand Prairie location is on the southern side of the Metroplex...near the PGBT and I-20 interchange.

We try to go down to Dallas a few times a year and stop by IKEA in Frisco to grab kids cups, cutlery and odds and ends, they have the best prices for quality for things like that bar none in my opinion and every time we've been it's been nearly overflowing with people. It's nearly uncomfortable to shop in.

I'm in this area all the time. Let me know if anyone wants me to pick something up for them. ;)

I don't think anyone's posted this, but IKEA recently announced they are now making weekly deliveries to select zip codes in Oklahoma once a week for a flat rate of $99. Hopefully this is a sign they're considering entering the OKC or Tulsa markets.


IKEA Frisco delivers to select zip codes in Oklahoma once a week, primarily to the areas in Oklahoma City metro and Tulsa area. All deliveries are a flat rate of $99 and include picking service.

• Deliveries to Oklahoma City and surrounding zip codes – every Wednesday and Thursday
• Deliveries to Tulsa area - every Thursday
• Orders must be placed by the end of business day Sunday for delivery on the following week

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/store/frisco/service
Zip Codes: http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_US/img/local_store_info/frisco/ikea_frisco_okc_zips.pdf

I hope they go to OKC, but I have a feeling they'll go to Tulsa.

Of course they will go to Tulsa first, that is a no brainer.

So, they go two days to OKC (Wed and Thurs) and only one to Tulsa (Thurs), but you believe Tulsa is the better market?
Costco went to Tulsa when the negotiations broke down here in OKC first. They wanted ridiculous lease terms and found it in Tulsa.
LaMadeline was initially coming to OKC but was a victim of the Penn Sq Bank collapse.

Hate to break it to everyone, but Tulsa isn't always the first choice. However, they do have investors there who will buy franchises and we don't always have them ready to do that here in OKC. In that respect, we often lag Wichita.

Hate to break it to everyone, but Tulsa isn't always the first choice. However, they do have investors there who will buy franchises and we don't always have them ready to do that here in OKC. In that respect, we often lag Wichita.

Would you say that's changing?

LaMadeline Is going to Norman, right?

We are fortunate right now that our food entrepreneurs are investing in local concepts. We still lag behind in bringing some good chains in. Norman sure seems to be reeling them in though.

If you're interested: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/growroom-ikea-garden_us_58a63e74e4b037d17d2654a4

I am so glad that Rover brought up the subject of investors buying franchises. I think that is a huge overlooked reason why one market gets a national chain before another one. As someone who recently did due diligence on buying a healthcare franchise, I learned a lot about how this works. My suspicion is that there are a lot of national retail franchise companies that would be happy to entertain inquiries from OKC or Tulsa, and on the coasts especially they probably don't have an ingrained bias towards or against either market, but it's just a matter of local interest. What can OKC do to foster local entrepreneurship? (Incidentally I don't think this applies much to IKEA which is the original topic of this thread but it probably does apply to lots of other concepts)

I am so glad that Rover brought up the subject of investors buying franchises. I think that is a huge overlooked reason why one market gets a national chain before another one. As someone who recently did due diligence on buying a healthcare franchise, I learned a lot about how this works. My suspicion is that there are a lot of national retail franchise companies that would be happy to entertain inquiries from OKC or Tulsa, and on the coasts especially they probably don't have an ingrained bias towards or against either market, but it's just a matter of local interest. What can OKC do to foster local entrepreneurship? (Incidentally I don't think this applies much to IKEA which is the original topic of this thread but it probably does apply to lots of other concepts)

There's a ton of entrepreneurship in OKC. Pretty much everyone I know has a side business of some sort. I just think a lot of people think of every national chain as Walmart. Once you let one in, they'll build one on every corner so investors are probably not so confident to bring in a chain.

It's been discussed on this thread a few times, but IKEA choosing OKC or Tulsa wouldn't really be based on either singular market. This is a destination store in probably the purest sense of the term so they would position it in a place that would draw the most customers possible. With there now being 2 in Dallas, the only one to the north of us is in Kansas City. Tulsa would probably make the most sense for them to pull in customers from Arkansas as well as OKC.