IKEA Plans Midwestern DC

Conshohocken, Pa., IKEA said it plans to open an approximately 1.4 million-sq.-ft. distribution center on 72 acres at the Laraway Crossings Business Park in Joliet, Ill., south of Chicago. The new center will allow IKEA to receive goods in Joliet by rail, to manage its inventory and to distribute product to stores throughout North America, with a focus on IKEA stores in the Midwest.

The project will consist of a 650,000 sq.-ft. facility to be operational as early as spring 2009. The plans also allow for a potential expansion of approximately 770,000 more sq. ft. should the storage capacity be necessary.