Ikea is planning to build a 417,000 square foot store next to Dolphin Mall.: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/08/22/2963592_ikea-coming-to-miami-dade.html

The store will be above a two level parking garage, which is unusual for Ikea.

The largest Ikea in the US is in Schaumburg, Illiniois at 450,000 sf. An Ikea in Centennial, Colorado which opened last year is said to be second largest at 415,000 sf.

The Swetwater store will be 40% larger than the Broward County Ikea in Sunrise which is 293,000 sf.

IKEA has closed on the $31.5 million purchase of nearly 15 acres next to Dolphin Mall in Sweetwater where it plans a 417,000-square-foot store.

http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2012/11/19/ikea-closes-on-315m-purchase-of-land.html

February 20, 2013 06:00 AM Eastern Time

Swedish Home Furnishings Retailer IKEA Secures Contractors for Future Miami-Dade Store, on Track to Open Summer 2014

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, today announced that contractors have been hired and a building permit is pending for its future Miami-Dade store in Sweetwater, FL. This progress allows the project to continue on track for a groundbreaking within the next two months and a store opening in Summer 2014, increasing the Swedish retailer’s presence in South Florida. Until then, customers can shop at Broward County’s IKEA Sunrise or online at IKEA-USA.com. (Two other Florida IKEA stores are located in Orlando and Tampa.)

“We are excited that plans are on track to open IKEA Miami in Summer 2014 as our second South Florida store”

IKEA has chosen one of the nation’s largest construction management firms, Balfour Beatty Construction, to oversee the project. The company (www.balfourbeattyus.com) has deep roots in Florida since its 1933 establishment, and has been recognized as one of FORTUNE’s Best Places to Work and as a Top 10 Green Builder by Engineering News-Record. Other Florida firms involved with this IKEA project include: Kimley-Horn and Associates for civil engineering; ATC Associates for geotechnical services; GFA International, Inc. for testing and inspection services, Holland & Knight for local land use counsel; The Goldstein Environmental Law Firm for Brownfield expertise; real estate brokerage The Shopping Center Group for site selection support; and Procacci Development Corporation for selling the land. Atlanta-based GreenbergFarrow is the project architect.

“We are excited that plans are on track to open IKEA Miami in Summer 2014 as our second South Florida store,” said Mike Ward, IKEA US president. “This store will provide a more conveniently located IKEA shopping experience for current and potential Miami-Dade customers, and will help strengthen the IKEA presence in Florida established by stores already in Sunrise, Orlando and Tampa.”

IKEA Miami will feature nearly 10,000 exclusively designed items, 50 inspirational room-settings, three model home interiors, a supervised children’s play area, and a 500-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, preferred parking and play areas throughout the store. In addition to the more than 500 jobs that are expected to be created during the construction phase, approximately 350 coworkers would join the IKEA family when the new store opens. IKEA Miami also would provide significant annual sales and property tax revenue for local governments and schools.

The 417,000 square-foot future IKEA Miami, and 1,500 parking spaces, will be built in the City of Sweetwater on 14.6 acres adjacent to the Dolphin Mall, and located west of Miami International Airport at the intersection of the Dolphin Expressway (SR 836) and Florida's Turnpike. Store plans reflect the unique architectural design for which IKEA stores are known worldwide. IKEA also will evaluate solar generation potential for this store to complement the presence of renewable energy generation at nearly 90% of its current U.S. locations.

As much as i love IKEA coming to Miami, they have placed it in one of the worst areas I could think of. I dont know who zoned that area but first we have two huge malls two blocks away from each other, second the NW 12st and 107 ave cross streets are a disaster. With IKEA in the middle of this the traffic will be unbearable. I hope there is a plan to change the street design and maybe direct exit ramps into Dolphin mall to take cars out of the main streets.

Ikea groundbreaking scheduled for Tuesday May 7th, with completion set for for summer 2014.

They are going to make a killing.