New IKEA featuring 3,250 home products will look dramatically different

This is a major win for Greater Cleveland, as it is currently the biggest metropolitan area in the country without an Ikea store.

“Westlake represents an exciting opportunity to connect with more people in Northern Ohio and help them create homes that reflect their needs, style and budget,” Rob Olson, chief operating officer of Ikea US, said in a statement.

The new furniture store will take over the space left behind by Dick’s Sporting Goods at 300 Crocker Park Boulevard, which was vacated last year when the sports company relocated to Avon Commons.

Ikea is planning to retrofit the building to turn it into its signature showroom format, featuring a warehouse-style selection.

Construction work began on the new store this week, with renovation crews already removing the sporting medallions from the building’s exterior, reported Cleveland Magazine.

“We had a very short list of ‘best-in-class’ retailers we believed could truly transform this key anchor location, and IKEA was our number-one choice,” said Lidia Saluan Richani, executive vice president of leasing for Stark Enterprises, the real estate firm that owns Crocker Park.