Cabela's, Bass Pro Shops and IKEA (Indianapolis, Bloomington: to buy, schools, university)

[Chicago76]

Originally Posted by Gnutella

Outside of the extra-large metropolitan areas, IKEA generally tends to spread their locations out. The announcement of Columbus getting an IKEA seems to violate that trend since Columbus is relatively close to Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, both of which have IKEAs already. Kansas City getting an IKEA before St. Louis made sense, though, because the closest IKEAs to Kansas City were in Chicago, Minneapolis, Dallas and Denver. St. Louis is a day trip from Chicago, but Kansas City is very far from all the cities that had IKEAs before it did. It does look like Cleveland and Indianapolis will be waiting, though, because Indianapolis has IKEAs nearby in Chicago and Cincinnati, and Cleveland has IKEAs nearby in Pittsburgh and Detroit. Both cities will soon have another nearby in Columbus as well.

I think what this is telling you is that the model IKEA is using has changed. Here in STL, the city bent over backwards with tax incentives to land the IKEA. They thought they'd be the only game in town. Guess what? They're putting another IKEA in the metro in West County now.

IKEA will ramp up here just as they have in Europe. Remember when getting a Starbucks was a status symbol back in the mid 90s? IKEA won't ramp up to that extreme (obviously), but I'd be surprised if they didn't have at least one store in each of the 40 largest urban markets within 10 years.

[Toxic Toast]

Originally Posted by McdonaldIndy

IKEA will do well in Indy or any metro area of 2,000,000 or more. Just because IKEA is in Cincy and Chicago doesn't mean they can't do well here. With sales taxes being lower in Indy an Ikea here can draw people out of state

The only people choosing a hypothetical Indianapolis IKEA over a nearby out of state IKEA are people in downstate Illinois. Hardly a game changing draw when you consider STL is going to getting an IKEA soon too. Sales tax in STL is 1.67% higher than Indy; so we are splitting hairs over $10 on $700 furniture. Louisville and Lexington would be big draws; but sales tax is lower in Ohio.

[Toxic Toast]

Originally Posted by McdonaldIndy

Ohio sales tax has a local option add on.
Regardless a 2-3% sales tax difference is big when you buy a complete furniture set for 5,000 or more. Some families will load up at Ikea

District Rate
Ohio State 5.750%
Butler County 0.750%
West Chester 0.000%
Total 6.500%

[indy_317]

My wife and I finally got to check out IKEA in Cincinnati last fall. It was a pretty neat concept, but to me it just just another furniture store. However, they do have a lot more selection than most of your traditional furniture stores here in Indy as they also sold a lot of kitchen stuff as well. Since we are building a home this year we will be looking at furniture later in the year for the home. We might head back down to IKEA just to see what they have to offer.

[ShanM]

It is coming. Just heard today. Somewhere near Hamilton Town Center. Also a ChickFilet.

[Northwest Indiana]

Originally Posted by ShanM

It is coming. Just heard today. Somewhere near Hamilton Town Center. Also a ChickFilet.

Source?

[Toxic Toast]

Originally Posted by Northwest Indiana

Source?

No source needed. I think this is sufficient for starting a rumor across social media. Let's see how far it goes.

[W & C]

Heh.

I go to IKEA for their swedish meatballs sometimes

[ischyros]

Originally Posted by ShanM

It is coming. Just heard today. Somewhere near Hamilton Town Center. Also a ChickFilet.

Are you sure you aren't thinking of the Cabelas store that is well into construction there??

[UsernameAlreadyTaken]

Well, we can all believe the "first-poster" that swung by to try to get the rumors going again, right?