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I think the Top Golf ship has sailed. The Drive Shack is going in one exit north of Cary Towne Center, on the east side of 40. They're grading the site right now and will be open years ahead of what anyone could get through the Town of Cary.
IKEA was exciting because it was going to be a catalyst for the redevelopment of the mall. It's a huge chain, something we don't have in the Triangle, and a big enough tenant to cause CBL to redevelop the whole mall. But....
IKEA wasn't going to be a big draw for me personally. It was a regional retailer drawing traffic from miles around. I could do without a regional traffic draw at that spot.
I would have preferred Top Golf. IKEA was exciting because they were going to do something and anything is better than what they have now. It will be interesting to see where they go next. Fenton zoning is approved, Cary Commons (B&N site) was recently sold, and now the mall is a blank slate again. There's tons of potential in that area. I just hope something comes in before the next economic downturn so that it doesnt' remain derelect or get developed as a generic shopping center.
For those that think it was just "Cary", I really doubt it. This wasn't the first Triangle location IKEA seriously looked at. If they wanted Raleigh or Durham they could have had it. This feels like them passing on putting a big box in the Triangle region. Based on the articles it sounds like a smaller store closer to downtown Raleigh or Durham could be a more realistic future option.
This is why I was excited about it. Not because I really want or need an IKEA nearby. I have not set foot in one or bought from one in at least 8 years.
I was also concerned about the traffic and draw from all over the place. That particular intersection used to be terrible at the holidays when CTC was a busier mall, so I was picturing pretty much most weekends being like that during decent weather with an IKEA around.
I want the mall to be reworked. I really don't care a whole lot about an IKEA. I'd much rather a bunch of smaller shops with reliable client bases.
Something we don't have nearby, but people would shop at would be great.
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Antioch, TN and Marietta, GA should also worry; their stores were also due to open in 2020.
A quick review of the five US-drugstore-sized "IKEA order and collection points" in the UK & Ireland turns up:
- two urban locations, although with plenty of parking, in large metros with existing suburban stores (London & Birmingham)
- two suburban locations outside smaller cities that previously didn't have IKEAs (Norwich & Aberdeen)
- one suburban location, across town from an existing full-size IKEA (Dublin)
Canada's six "IKEA Pick-up and order points" are up to twice as large -- about the size of a small supermarket, from a Fresh Market on the small end (20,000 sq ft) to a Whole Foods Market on the large end (40,000 sq ft). They are all located in suburban locations, outside smaller cities in Ontario and Quebec. The most instructive one for the Triangle is the one located in Ontario's Tri-Cities, a collection of college towns about 60 miles outside Toronto, with a regional population of about 500,000. There, IKEA located in a Costco-anchored strip mall in the center of the region -- well away from the area's universities.
So, they're definitely using these new compact store formats to reach smaller metro areas, not necessarily "alpha" global cities, and to fit into strip malls where people are already shopping. Several of these have backfilled existing dark big boxes -- e.g., Birmingham was a Toys 'R' Us. So assuming they're still interested in the Triangle, and the "we will not be able to physically join the vibrant Cary community"* statement means not Cary, then... hmm, are there empty boxes on Glenwood or around Southpoint?
This is why I was excited about it. Not because I really want or need an IKEA nearby. I have not set foot in one or bought from one in at least 8 years.
I was also concerned about the traffic and draw from all over the place. That particular intersection used to be terrible at the holidays when CTC was a busier mall, so I was picturing pretty much most weekends being like that during decent weather with an IKEA around.
I want the mall to be reworked. I really don't care a whole lot about an IKEA. I'd much rather a bunch of smaller shops with reliable client bases.
Something we don't have nearby, but people would shop at would be great.
Agreed.
Couldn't care less about Ikea. Just want to see something better than CTC.
But, IMO, Ikea, while a much better use of the location than a Top Golf, certainly would isn't a visionary and forward-thinking "highest and best use" of the property by any means.
A more dynamic "Live, Work, Play" redevelopment would be much more appealing.
The Fenton may be a good model.
Interesting that IKEA says they are going to focus more on urban centers because, presumably, that is where there target audience (millennials) is and this recent Chicago Tribune article explains that many millennials are being priced out of urban areas and are choosing to settle in more dense inner-ring suburban areas that blend some of the walkability, shorter commutes, amenities, and diversity or urban living with some of the increased space and affordable prices of suburban areas. Article calls it "surban"; particularly popular choice once they start to have families (which many now are). They can't afford downtown yet don't want to sprawl out to the fringes and live in a McMansion with long drive times everywhere -despite it being "affordable".
My though, these young families are going to need lots of sturdy affordable furniture and storage solutions for their new digs - especially decking out the baby/child rooms.
Interesting that IKEA says they are going to focus more on urban centers because, presumably, that is where there target audience (millennials) is and this recent Chicago Tribune article explains that many millennials are being priced out of urban areas and are choosing to settle in more dense inner-ring suburban areas that blend some of the walkability, shorter commutes, amenities, and diversity or urban living with some of the increased space and affordable prices of suburban areas. Article calls it "surban"; particularly popular choice once they start to have families (which many now are). They can't afford downtown yet don't want to sprawl out to the fringes and live in a McMansion with long drive times everywhere -despite it being "affordable".
My though, these young families are going to need lots of sturdy affordable furniture and storage solutions for their new digs - especially decking out the baby/child rooms.
How much of IKEA's business is in the US vs. Europe?
How much of IKEA's business is in the US vs. Europe?
I see what you're saying but it's common to have totally different business strategies for different continents and not rare to have totally different, or at least significantly modified, business strategies for different regions w/in "a state".
Cary: Yeah ..well ..nobody wants your crappy furniture anyway, so shove your meatballs!
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..well 
