Get your assembling tools ready because the new IKEA building is now open.
The new store, located right next to the old one on Southwest 41st Street, is two stories tall, 399,00-square feet in size and will have nearly double the parking spots. Upon the demolition of the old building, the old site will be remodeled to a 1,600 space parking lot.
On Wednesday, Feb. 22 Mayor Denis Law and store manager Diedre Goodchild inaugurated the opening by sawing a log, a tradition that’s believed to bring good luck.
The new Renton store employs approximately 425 including nearly 50 new hires, and features 10,000 exclusively-designed items, a 600-seat IKEA restaurant, 43 room settings, three model home interiors and a supervised children’s play area.
Reflecting the company’s renewable energy presence at 90 percent of its U.S. locations, IKEA installed Washington’s largest rooftop solar array atop the new store.
On Feb. 21, both stores were closed to the public, but open to local charitable groups so they could benefit from some home furnishings remaining at the old store. Items were available for chosen organizations to select from as part of a donation day shopping spree for more than $56,000.
“After more than 22 years in the Pacific Northwest, we are excited about building upon our established Seattle area presence with a new, updated and enhanced store across the parking lot from the original one in Renton,” said Goodchild in a press release. “The enthusiasm of coworkers about offering the latest version of the unique IKEA concept is translating into an exciting experience for long-time customers as well as first-time visitors.”
