IKEA to open Beersheba store next month

The fourth Israeli store of the Swedish ready-to-assemble retail furniture chain is scheduled to open February 27

Swedish furniture giant Ikea will be opening its fourth store in Israel, this one in the southern city of Beersheba, the Globes financial newspaper reported on Sunday.

The ready to assemble furniture chain expects some 900,000 people to visit the new store in 2018, and forecasts it will sell some 3 million items in the same period. The chain intends to employ some 240 workers in a variety of positions, Globes said.

The store, which is scheduled to open on February 27, will span some 22,000 square meters (237,000 square feet) and, following the Ikea format, will include showrooms and warehouses that will offer some 8,000 items for sale and 1,500 parking places, two restaurants, a Swedish food store and a children’s corner.

“It’s another step in implementing IKEA’s vision of making daily life better for people as much as possible,” said IKEA CEO in Israel, Shuki Koblenz. He said the store will help the creation of opportunities in the development of commerce and employment in the city and southern Israel.

The furniture chain has already set up stores in Netanya, Rishon Lezion and Kiryat Ata, near Haifa.