IKEA to open in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) this month

posted on: Feb 2 2010 12:45 by Royston. Viewed 770 times.


Well, it turns out the rumors were not without foundation. Ikea is to open it�s doors on February 17th, 2010.

After protracted negotiations on the perceived danger of the overhead power lines needed to serve this blue and yellow Swedish retail giant and a few missed opening dates, finally Dominicans are all to be allowed access to the world of flat pack furniture.

The high tension power lines have been routed underground and the car park has been made ready. Some of the 300,000 copies of the catalog printed so far have been arriving in Santo Domingo homes. All this means that the date of February 17th looks like being kept.

This is the first Latin American venture for the Swedish Company which has 300 stores in 35 countries and employs over 130,000 people. Marketing director Julissa Taveras says �Santo Domingo was chosen because the company sees the Dominican Republic as a country full of opportunities.� The store will generate between 400 and 500 jobs directly and a further 2000 jobs are possible indirectly. All products will initially be imported from European sources, but Ikea�s spokesman has suggested that it may be possible in the future for Dominican firms to manufacture some products locally.

The cost  has been put at between US$65 million and US$80 million and the project was developed by Grupo Modesto on a 80,000sq m. site on John F Kennedy. This Ikea will be no different to other stores around the world. It will have 1200 parking spaces, a "market hall" of 4,490 sq metres, huge warehouse, self service area, exhibition area, 850 seat restaurant and a kids� play area.

All that remains now is to see if the market here in the Dominican Republic will return the faith placed in it by Ikea�s management.

2 related news articles

IKEA brings more competition to Dominican furniture retailers: Feb 23 2010

First Dominican IKEA store opened by the President: Feb 18 2010