Daily News
From Home Furnishing Business
Ikea Advances Plans for Midwest Distribution Center
February 20,
2015 by in Business Strategy, Furniture Retailing, Industry 
Ikea has submitted final plans to build a distribution center in Joliet, Ill.
The home furnishings retailer received initial approval from city officials in 2007 in advance of its expanded retail presence in the Midwest.
If the plans are approved by Joliet city officials, the retailer said construction of the 1.4-million-square-foot distribution center could begin as early as this fall. The center could then be operational by the summer of 2017.
The planned distribution center would fulfill inventory needs for 10 Ikea stores throughout the Midwest, as well as fulfillment of customer orders.
“We have known for some time now that Joliet was the perfect location for our distribution hub in the Midwest, so we are pleased our Midwestern presence has grown to the point where we need this terminal to be up and running in 2017,” said Rob Olson, Ikea U.S. CFO. “We appreciate the City of Joliet’s cooperation and patience that allowed us to plan long-term and reach this point today.”