Ikea said to be eyeing Cleveland area for store

BROOKLYN, Ohio — Ikea may open a store in this Cleveland suburb, according to an online report from the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

The publication reported that the Plain Dealer Publishing Co. has signed a deal to sell a 16-acre site in Brooklyn to Ikea. The site is just off Interstate 480 and abuts a parcel of city-owned land that the publication said may also be needed, as Ikea typically uses 20-30 acres for both its stores and parking.

Further details about the project were vague as neither party confirmed specifics about the contract or plans for the store.

Ikea did confirm last week that it is planning a 269,000-square-foot store in the Memphis, Tenn., area that is expected to open in the fall of 2016. This store would be on about 35 acres along the southwestern side of Interstate 40, about 15 miles east of downtown, officials said.

Construction in Memphis could start in the fall of 2015. A store of this size would feature nearly 10,000 exclusively designed items, 50 room settings, three model home interiors, a supervised children’s play area and a 300-seat restaurant.