Ikea coming to York - (oh no it isn't, oh yes it is!)

Yahoo

10-05-2025

Ikea is coming to York at last - after 20 years of waiting, reports MAXINE GORDON
NEWS that Swedish home furnishings giant Ikea is to open a shop in York marks the end of a 20-year rollercoaster ride for fans of the global retailer.
Ikea shoppers first had their hopes raised back in 2005 when the Scandinavian retailer revealed it was talking with city council chiefs about the possibility of establishing a store in York as part of its expansion plans.
It was reported at the time that such a deal could bring tens of millions of pounds into the York economy with hundreds of jobs for city people.
Ikea's interest in York was enthusiastically received by city chiefs, with the York Press reporting that business and tourist bosses hailed it as "very good news".
How the new York store might look - from drawings submitted to planners
However, Ikea revealed that any plans were at the very early stages and had not gone past general inquiries.
That didn't stop speculation about where a new Ikea store might be located in York. Suggestions included the former Ikon & Diva nightclub site at Clifton Moor, or over at Monks Cross, or even in the city centre as part of the redevelopment of the Coppergate area.
The former nightclub site of ikon and Diva at Clifton Moor was once considered as the perfect location for an Ikea store in York. Picture By Steven Bradshaw.
However these initial talks came to nothing and there were no other stories about Ikea opening in York until 2018 when the prospect of the retailer coming to the city made the headlines yet again.
This time around, the story was about city leaders approaching Ikea in the hope of attracting the company to York.
Ikea was one of the several big names being courted in an initiative to boost York's retail offer.
Other contemporary brands approached included India Jane, Camper Shoes and BoConcept.
A council report said destination management organisation Make It York had contacted bosses at leading brands to promote the city. A dedicated task group was working to tempt brands to consider opening stores in York. And as part of their efforts they approached more than 80 companies to explain why their brand could succeed in the city, Ikea being one of them.
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But days later, any excitement about the prospect of Ikea coming to York was quashed: an Ikea spokesman said the company was not considering York as a potential location at the time.
Of course, the story doesn't end there!
The Press is now reporting a happy end to the 'will they/won't they saga'.
Ikea is finally coming to York.
The retailer is preparing to open one of its new concept stores in the city.
Plans for advertising signs have been approved at the site in Clifton Moor. Image - Google Street View and PR Newswire It wants to open an Ikea Plan and Order point at Clifton Moor, also known as a 'POP'.
The company says: 'Our Plan and Order points are smaller stores dedicated to kitchen, bedroom and living room planning where you can find home furnishing advice and expertise to help design your ideal space.
'You can book an appointment or use our online planner tools to design your own solution.'
There are only three POPs in the UK so far, at Preston, Aintree and Stockport.
Plans have been submitted to the city council to turn the former Jysk furniture store on Stirling Road, Clifton Moor, into an Ikea POP.
Twenty patient years of waiting looks like to have paid off at last.