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Tampa Ikea Construction Moving 'Without A Glitch'

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By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 25, 2008

TAMPA - The towering prefabricated concrete walls are rising on the southeast corner of Adamo Drive and 22nd Street, and that can only mean one thing: The long-awaited Ikea furniture store that is somewhat of a pop culture phenomenon, is getting closer to opening its doors.

The iconic store, which will offer inexpensive, assemble-yourself furniture, is set to open next summer.

The 353,000-square-foot building 1,700 parking spaces and 600 newly planted trees is on 29 acres just east of downtown. The international corporation said the store will provide jobs for more than 400 workers.

It is the third Ikea store to open in Florida. The other two are in Orlando and Sunrise. It is the sixth in the Southeast and 37th in the United States. The company said it sold home decor to 458 million people in 2006.

Steadily, the site is taking shape after ground was broken this summer amid a fanfare that included many elected city officials gushing over the business inside an air-conditioned tent.

The site was home to a dilapidated warehouse and an eyesore that city officials were glad to see come tumbling down. The Ikea project has drawn the support of just about everyone in Tampa city government.

John Barrios, manager of the city's construction services division, said work on the site so far has gone off without a glitch. The only problem has been the recent weather.

"I'm sure the weather is wreaking havoc on them," Barrios said this morning. "Hopefully, it will dry out, and they can get their work done."

The city routinely inspects the construction project. "According to our records, it looks like they're progressing pretty normal," Barrios said. "There is a lot of stuff happening out there right now."

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

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