IKEA to locate first Indiana store in suburban Indianapolis

FISHERS, Ind. (AP) - Swedish furniture retailer IKEA will locate its first Indiana store in the Indianapolis suburb of Fishers, creating 250 jobs and offering a new draw for the rapidly growing area, officials said Tuesday.

The company plans to open the store in the fall of 2017 along Interstate 69 about five miles north of Indianapolis, the company and local officials said. The $40 million expansion will include a 296,000-square-foot store and 1,000 parking spaces on a 35-acre. The store will include 50 decorated rooms, three model home interiors, a 350-seat restaurant and play area for children.

"There are certain retailers in the world that, when they decide to locate in your community, it says something about the quality and character of your community," Mayor Scott Fadness said at a news conference at Fishers City Hall, "and I think this is a win not just for Fishers in our pursuit of being a vibrant and entrepreneurial city but also for the entire central Indiana region."

IKEA currently has 41 stores in the U.S. that draw customers from 100 miles away or more. Those currently open and nearest to Indiana are located in the Chicago, St. Louis and Cincinnati, Ohio, areas.

"You cannot buy that kind of tourism exposure," said Brenda Myers, executive director of Hamilton County Tourism Inc. "We are seen as so vanilla, and this makes us look so much more hip."

The company specializes in ready-to-assemble furniture including, beds, chairs and desks, as well as appliances and accessories.

IKEA representatives have been scouting locations in the Indianapolis area for 10 years but narrowed the search to Fishers only about two years ago, company spokesman Joseph Roth said. The company seeks highly visible land for sale and potential sites undergo several levels of review before being approved.

Fadness said IKEA officials approached the city about six months ago. The city is considering some financial incentives, such as a waiver of impact fees, but the mayor said tax abatement is not part of the agreement.