OREANDA-NEWS. July 29, 2015.  IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, today announced that steel framing has progressed far enough that installation of the iconic blue composite panels has begun on its future Las Vegas store. Installing the blue panels is a construction milestone that ensures the store will open Summer 2016, and it reflects the unique architectural design for which IKEA stores are known worldwide.

The 351,000 square-foot future IKEA Las Vegas store, and 1,300 parking spaces, is being built on 26 acres along the northern side of the 215 Beltway at Durango Drive, near Sunset Road, and will open Summer 2016. Until then, customers can shop at the closest IKEA stores: Covina, CA; Tempe, AZ, or Draper, UT; or online at IKEA-USA.com.

“With IKEA Las Vegas taking shape and the blue paneling now going up, we definitely are on track for a grand opening next summer,” said Lars Petersson, IKEA U.S. president. “We hope to be enclosed fully within several months, and cannot wait to begin transforming the building’s interior to look like an IKEA store as well. We know there are many customers in the area who are excited for us to open, including more than 101,000 who currently are driving great distances to shop at our stores.”

IKEA Las Vegas will feature nearly 10,000 exclusively designed items, 50 inspirational room-settings, three model home interiors, a supervised children’s play area, and a 450-seat restaurant serving Swedish specialties such as meatballs with lingonberries and salmon plates, as well as American dishes. Other family-friendly features include a ‘Children’s IKEA’ area in the Showroom, baby care rooms, play areas throughout the store and preferred parking. IKEA also will evaluate potential on-site power generation to complement its current U.S. goal of a renewable energy presence at nearly 90% of its U.S. locations.

IKEA Las Vegas will provide annual sales and property tax revenue for local governments and schools. And – in addition to 500 jobs expected during construction – 300 coworkers will join the IKEA family when the store opens. Opportunities will be available in the fall for candidates interested in working at this employer of choice in home furnishings sales, interior decoration, customer service, safety and security, cashiers, maintenance, goods flow, receiving, warehouse and stock replenishment. Also, setting itself apart, IKEA Las Vegas will offer nearly 60 food service opportunities in its Restaurant, Swedish Food Market, Caf? Bistro and coworker cafeteria.

Since its 1943 founding in Sweden, IKEA has offered home furnishings of good design and function, at low prices so the majority of people can afford them. There are currently more than 360 IKEA stores in 47 countries, including 40 in the U.S. IKEA has been included in rankings of “Best Companies to Work For” and, as further investment in its coworkers, has raised its own minimum wage twice in two years. IKEA incorporates sustainability into day-to-day business and supports initiatives that benefit children and the environment. For more information see IKEA-USA.com, @IKEAUSANews, @IKEAUSA or IKEAUSA on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest.