Tuesday’s announcement that Colorado’s first Ikea store will open three to four months sooner than expected was enthusiastically greeted by south metro area officials Tuesday.
The 415,000-square-foot Centennial store, originally expected to open this fall, will open July 27.
South Metro Denver Chamber president John Brackney said he expects the store, located along Interstate 25 just north of Park Meadows mall, to attract many out-of-state visitors.
He predicted they’ll spend a couple of days shopping at Ikea and dining and staying in the south metro area, providing a boost for hotels, restaurants and other retailers.
Ikea spokesman Joseph Roth credited “a light winter, which allowed the construction team to work hard and long,” with helping the company accelerate its opening-day plans.
“Everything went really quickly — good weather, a good construction team” and local officials who helped speed the permitting process, Roth said.
Allison Wittern, spokeswoman for Centennial, said the city and Ikea developed a “real good partnership” that expedited the permitting process.
When the store opens, it will employ 400 people.
The company has already hired many full- time employees. This weekend it will begin hiring part-time workers for home-furnishing sales, customer service, cashier, receiving, warehouse and stock replenishment.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
