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Tampa Ikea May Begin Hiring In January, Store Says

Tribune photo by JULIE BUSCH

The Tampa IKEA is under construction and store officials say it will open by summer.

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By MICHAEL SASSO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 9, 2008

Ikea, the mammoth furniture retailer known for Swedish designs and Swedish meatballs, may begin recruiting workers by January.

An Ikea representative gave media tours today of the showroom under construction on Adamo Drive just south of Ybor City. The store will be the company's largest in Florida at 353,000 square feet, about 40,000 square feet larger than Ikea's Orlando store and 60,000 square feet larger than its Sunrise store, said Ikea U.S. public affairs director Joseph Roth.

Recently, the company finished interviews with job candidates for roughly 50 open management positions at the store, most of which will be filled by local candidates. The company also has hired a store manager, 19-year Ikea veteran Monica Varela, who most recently helped open the company's new South Florida store.

Ikea's Tampa store will employ about 400 people, and the company expects to begin recruiting for nonmanagement positions in January. Roth would not reveal the company's pay scale.

Construction is on schedule for the store to open in the summer, although the company doesn't have a date.

Ikea is known for its massive stores, iconic blue exterior and inexpensive European designs. For many smaller furniture or accessory items, customers pick what they want from a two-floor showroom and pick it up at an adjacent warehouse.

Among other elements, the store will have a 350-seat restaurant serving Swedish meatballs and other items.

Reporter Michael Sasso can be reached at (813) 259-7865 or msasso@tampatrib.com.

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