Ikea coming to Jacksonville

[fsujax]

Macy's at Regency would do wonders for that mall.

[CityLife]

Sources also say Memphis would be IKEA's smallest market and that FedEx's international shipping operation was a big draw.

http://www.nbc12.com/story/27632790/ikea-may-be-coming-to-memphis

FedEx and Founder/CEO Fred Smith do a lot for Memphis, who knows what kind of arrangement they made to draw Ikea. That and a lack of another Ikea in proximity, make it an apples to oranges comparison to Jax. The fact that they are willing to open in a smaller market is definitely good news for Jax though.

[thelakelander]

Great. So all we need is a distribution hub the size of FedEx and we're on our way! Sounds simple enough...

[thelakelander]

Lakelander,
Your comment:

"This is true. Macy's is a good example. The market is present but there are other factors at play."

Is quite true as it comes to Macy's. About a year ago I was in Savannah and a Macy's Manager who looks into site searches was having dinner beside me. He said Macy's wants to come. The big obstacle is they do not want to enter markets with one store (no more Savannah's, Tallahassee's ect.) and other than SJTC, there is no other suitable site. Orange Park  is full, Oak Leaf/RCMP not their kind of location. When a new mall was planned for St. John county, they were more interested. Many things come into play as you said.

My prediction is Macy's will enter the market when either Sears or JCPenney closes one or more of their local stores.  That would free up potential space at both Orange Park and Avenues.

Macy's at Regency would do wonders for that mall.

Unfortunately for Regency, Macy's isn't in the business of raising malls from the dead. That's a job for storefront churches and furniture stores!

[fsquid]

Great. So all we need is a distribution hub the size of FedEx and we're on our way! Sounds simple enough...

there's a ton of land at the airport.......

[Marle Brando]

There's a ton of land at the shipyards..*wishful thinking* for a Macy's and a ton of surface parking in the stadium lots for an Ikea. If I were Khan I'd totally consider building new garages and retail to activate that surface parking and create a synergy with my new Shipyards development. But I'm just me, and he's just him. A billionaire

[Ocklawaha]

Macy's at Regency would do wonders for that mall.

So would a fleet of bulldozers and some well engineered explosives!

That market drastically shifted when the 1950's bungalows throughout Arlington became terribly out dated, far smaller then modern homes and cheap to purchase. Lower income people that had/have previously lived in rentals now have an opportunity at a nice small home at an affordable price. That urban shift has driven the last nails in Regency ever getting Macy's, Sac's, or anything else beyond what the Gateway Mall already offers.

Orange Park/Flemming/Oak Leaf are the huge sleeper in the mall game in the Florida Crown, more so then St. Johns IMO. It's a booming area with a dominant rising middle income population with one mall, it it is not exactly the Ritz. It wouldn't surprise me as the economy turns to see a new TC sprout there and St. Johns.

Transportation Hub? For surface transportation we are about as close as it gets though our through truck volume is less then Lake City's (I-75). Don't dismiss air in Jacksonville as Cecil is a freaking amazing facility incredibly underutilized. Who knows what that future holds?

[thelakelander]

I'm going to pull a Stephendare here....

I'm hearing that IKEA may have changed their mind on Jax. Stay tuned....

[Tacachale]

It's night of the living thread....

[I-10east]

I went to the one in Sunrise, eh...I really like their pear cider though.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

I'm going to pull a Stephendare here....

I'm hearing that IKEA may have changed their mind on Jax. I'll update everyone shortly....

Fixed! 

[thelakelander]

Here's a hint. If things materialize they won't be downtown....

[FSBA]

Guessing either the Town Center or RCMP

[acme54321]

Here's a hint. If things materialize they won't be downtown....

SHOCKER

[copperfiend]

I'm going to pull a Stephendare here....

I'm hearing that IKEA may have changed their mind on Jax. Stay tuned....

Cryptic