One day?

I really have no idea if Aug 9 is big day or not for alleged West Chester news. I have some pretty good tips, and some moderate (I think) validation them, but do I know for sure? Nope. So tommorrow will be interesting to see how it pans out.

Edited: Removed the rest of this post - it WAS Dublin California, not Ohio. I didn’t even want to leave it up for chance of starting rumor that’s not true.

The word: August 9th?

So, the official announcement that IKEA was coming (to West Chester/Cinci) that was to happen today was pushed off yesterday. I got confirmation of this July 11th info from someone else entirely who had been told that also, so I am relatively convinced it was a real scoop. (Thank you, “Djup Hals” - that’s “Deep Throat” in Swedish - keep it coming!)

Today, “Djup Hals” (who gave me the July 11th date) updated me with a new August 9th date for the eagerly awaited announcement.

This makes me slightly elated as that’s my birthday! Naturally after running this site over two years, to have IKEA announce they might finally be coming to Ohio (and practically next door!) on my birthday would be the ultimate for me. (Hint hint , Joseph Roth)

Try not to be distracted by my twitching over here while we wait a bit longer.

More as I get it.

Tuesday: not so fast!

Apparently the “announcement” that we have all been waiting for that has reported to be coming tomorrow may not be coming (if it was ever gonna come, that is) - at least not now.

Word is the land deal “hasn’t finalized yet” so the “announcement” is been pushed back.

Now might be a good time to whip out Old Saint Tolking of Älmhult and pray real hard.

Is July 11 the big day?

I just got a report that the reccurant “answer in two weeks” figure that’s been bandied about in the press recently might just be really close to the truth. And only a few days off!

A beloved snitch writes to say a “very reliable source overseeing the entire deal” told them that the annoucement for Ohio’s IKEA will come on Tuesday, July 11, 2006.

I start a new job Monday, so I’ll be doing my best to keep an eye out, so keep your eyes on the news and on this site!

I have no idea how I will sleep all weekend now.

West Chester, heart of growth

This article has a very nice run down on the Union Center area of West Chester, for those curious as to why it’s the running contender in the rumormills.

And the rumors are still coming in about West Chester (and ONLY West Chester) A little more paranoid, but definitely more affirmative.

I’ve had a number of hints that something BIG is going to be announced to the public soon, and a “Looks like 2008 for Cincy”. I even got a letter recently from someone close to one of the IKEA offices in Sweden who not only says the OHIKEA site is accurate but that Ohio has some good news coming soon - of course can’t say what or when this will be.

To be sure you know the second I do, be sure to click the “sub via email” link under this post… you’ll get get a handy news bulletin in your inbox.

I think it’s getting close kids. You can almost smell the meatballs from my house.

Scott Yager says:

Being a resident of Cincinnati, I obvioiulsy would like Ikea to come here… but I think that the I-71 land near Polaris is much more likely. Actually, I would just like to not have to drive to Chicago just to go to Ikea!

Scott sent this pic of Polaris in Columbus to show the land around that exit…

Hey Scott, like you I’d be happy with ANY IKEA we could score for the state, no matter were it goes.

I think we’ll have an answer soon. I have this on very good authority that Ohio has some very good news coming “very soon”. I’m still firmly sticking by the West Chester leads as the location of first Ohio IKEA. My source was very specific on that. Very.

I think we’re going to have good news in July… and that’s just a guess, so cross your fingers.

Maybe it’s true?

West Chester site may be in plans for IKEA - Hamilton OH Journal News (requires login)

Use this anonymous login to read the article:
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Most interesting bit:
“A lot of buzz has been generated about the possibility of the furniture giant coming to West Chester Twp. because the stores are considered destination places, with fans of the furniture driving hundreds of miles for a weekend shopping trip.

Local sources said they expect IKEA to make a decision on the West Chester Twp. location in about two weeks.”

With all the local media freaking out on this, i’m trying not to go running around the cul-de-sac and waving my arms akimbo yet.

When one does come this guy in Columbus is ready to put it all together for you.

Don’t hold your breath yet

Ohio Ikea store still just a hope - Despite recent news reports, retail darling Ikea appears to be no closer to opening a store in Ohio today than it was a year ago.

And a Joe Roth quote:
“It’s not like we’ve been avoiding Ohio,” he said. “We just haven’t gotten there yet.”

Speakingof Mr Roth, he’s got a lot of quotes on all kinds of things. (I dunno who put that together.)

Big day!

IKEA’s spokeman Joseph Roth quite literally knocked my socks off when he called me today. Well, returned my call actually, as I dropped him a voicemail earlier in the day to tell them I tried to straighten out the misinformation that this site is in anyway associated with them.

He joked that that IKEA knows I have never said that and they “all” monitor this little site. (Pressure - now I have to learn to write like an adult and spell words without typos.) He thought it was rather funny, as I did, that a news “reporter” would mess up that badly when there is a clear disclaimer.

He was a very nice guy. We were both a bit befuddled where all this sudden “news” is coming from. No offical word has been released, and to be honest, nothing that IS out there is more than speculation and vaugue hints and has been so for MONTHS. He said he’s talked to about “every news outlet in the state” the last couple days since this went supernova, I said I’ve probably talked to half of those. Thats about the truth too. I can’t seem to get anything done that I was trying to today with all the phone calls and emails.

He did say “We’re looking at Ohio like we’re looking at Florida and other states” but that they aren’t concentrating a searchlight on Ohio as suggested by reporters - which is just a nice way to say ‘We love you , but we’re not IN love with you - yet’.

I personally think this might all go back a far as the story in the Toldedo Blade earlier this month that had a fair bit of speculation in it. That seems to have spun off the Plain Dealer’s article yesterday, which got picked up on the wires, sent to the four winds, coverted into adrenaline and injected directly into the juggular of over anxious tv reporters on an otherwise slow newsday.

Before the call ended I told him if he ever had anything he wanted to tell me, to let me know, heh. He did kindly offer me a spiffy tour of the Canton store though! I was to go this weekend but now have to cancel the visit Saturday due to a sudden family emergency, so maybe in July I can take him up on it.

I’m hoping what comes out of this is that maybe IKEA will feel some heat from the excitement given off by this news-spaz attack and maybe WILL start looking at little harder to find it’s Buckeye home.

Who wants to send the head office a big basket of chocolate Buckeyes and some flowers? We can make them love us right? Maybe we just need to “put out” more.

The heat is on

Ikea Looking To Build Store In Ohio - this is on a number of wires today.

Nothing definite from all accounts I’ve spoken to. But - I will throw this out there for what it is: an undocumented but highly prevalent rumor that is gaining strength and validity with multiple reports from multiple areas of retail/development. None of this is coming from the same people, places or offices. This is a widespread information leak. Can they all be wrong?

I’ve had people who work in zoning boards contact me to say a municipality in the Cinci area they work for had sadly turned IKEA down due to their sheer size requirements (they just didn’t have enough room in the township) I bet they could kick themselves if it’s really true - and it might not be. The tax income they would miss out on is amazing.

I’ve also gotten that IKEA is currently looking in West Chester/Union Center Blvd again. Now that’s something I’ve had confirmed about a year ago with a local realtor who had shown them some land there, but did say they hadn’t discussed it since.

Now, to be perfectly honest with you all when I call these various municipality zoning boards or realty individuals who are supposedly “in the know” they reply with cryptic things like “I haven’t talked specifically to anyone from IKEA” or “I can neither confirm or deny” type stuff that could mean anything. It could mean nothing. Frankly, it probably means nothing.

As with all investigation of this sort there’s one truth - if the answer was no, they’d say no. No one has a problem with denying things. Knowing how secretive IKEA likes to be until the BIG news comes out. No one will know for sure until Joe Roth with IKEA hits send on the press release.

Five seconds after I get the Google alert you’ll see it here.

Here’s some other stuff I’ve been told as late, of course I don’t have anything but hearsay on this, so take it for what it is:

1: Cleveland is out of the running, it’s just too close to Pittsburgh. Large stores (like Detroit) I was told are expected to make $77Mil + a year, or there abouts, so they of course would not want to cannibalize sales in preexisting stores, a Cleveland store would certainly do that as it would no doubt be bigger than the piddly widdle 125K Sq. ft. Pittsburgh store. (Schaumburg is 400K sq.ft.)

2: IKEA wants to build a midwest distribution center. Word is they have over 7 trucks a day going to Detroit and Chicagoland stores, and the fuel costs in shipping from the east coast (where their other centers are) are utmost in their mind. Cost is the bottom line at IKEA. A distribution center will certainly help lead to more midwestern stores, and Ohio/Indiana is a natural match being on 70, and close to existing stores. Ohio possibly more so since we have more interstate roadage than any other state and being on 70 and 75 have that NSEW hub action already going on.

All that being said, I haven’t heard a peep about Columbus in months. I think they too are out of the running as all the hints/whispers the last several weeks has been about the SW Ohio/Cincinnati Quadrant.

Cincinnati/SW Ohio is where it’s at I think if they want that indianapolis-louisville-lexington-cincinnati-dayton-columbus business sphere. Hey they might even pull from Nashville since it’d just be up 75. (or near it, if they took the 71 side of North Cinci - where to be honest there is loads of room, but well, on 71. Sure, Ohio maybe a “perplexing market” with our cities dotting 71 and 75 like a pearl necklace, but I don’t think we’re close together as much as just not all in one big clump. I think most Ohioans actually think all our cities are far flung from each other.

The good news in all of this is the last month Ohio is definitely HOT in Ikea’s mind, and on everyone’s lips. If they are looking, or better yet buying, we’ll know soon. I am positive they ARE looking. I’ll post more as I have it.

I’d like to say I’ll be the first to announce it, but I am not arrogant enough to believe that. If I just score a pre-opening ticket I’ll be happy. A girl can dream right?