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While some stores are leaving San Francisco, Ikea is opening there this week
By CNN COM WIRE SERVICE
PUBLISHED: August 21, 2023 at 10:45 a.m.

By Nathaniel Meyersohn | CNN

New York — Ikea is opening a new store in downtown San Francisco Wednesday, bucking the trend of retailers closing in the city.

Ikea will be the anchor tenant for a new mixed-use development on Market Street with retail, offices, restaurants and entertainment.

City leaders are hopeful that the home furniture store will draw shoppers to downtown San Francisco and support other businesses in the area at a time of store closures and rising public safety concerns.

Ikea’s parent company purchased the six-floor glass building in 2020 for redevelopment, at a cost of $260 million. The acquisition was part of Ikea’s strategy to open smaller stores in downtown districts after years of building sprawling locations on the outskirts of cities and in the suburbs.

Ikea will be the first retailer to open in the new development. Its three-level, 52,000-square-foot store will showcase 27 different room options for apartments and smaller city homes for customers. Shoppers will be able to buy and take home smaller products, but bigger furniture items like couches and bookshelves will only be available to order for delivery.

“The arrival of @IKEA is great news for the City’s economic recovery that will bring local jobs and excitement to the Union Square area,” San Francisco Mayor London Breed said earlier this month. “We are thrilled to welcome IKEA to be part of San Francisco’s future.”

https://www.siliconvalley.com/2023/08/21...ancisco-ikea-is-opening-there-this-week/