Ikea to open at UTC in Sarasota

Ikea, the popular global furniture retailer, is opening a 48,000-square-foot store near The Mall at University Town Center in Sarasota this summer. 

The store will be at 147 N. Cattleman Road, which for several months from late 2024 to early 2025 housed Rugs As Art following storm damage at its U.S. 41 location. The space has also been an outpost for the Christmas Tree Shop.

Swedish furniture retailer Ikea plans to have 5,000 items on display in Sarasota, of which 3,000 will be available for immediate takeaway, including home furnishings like textiles, lighting, accent pieces and more than 100 smaller furniture items. Larger items like sofas and beds can be ordered online or in store, for free pickup or delivery at cost. There will also be a central planning area where experts can help customers design kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as other spaces.

“At Ikea, our focus is on making it easier for more people to access affordable, well-designed home furnishings,” interim CEO of Ikea U.S. Rob Olson says in a statement. “Opening a new store in Sarasota builds on our broader efforts to meet customers where they are.”

The location will also include a Swedish deli with dishes including meatballs, falafel balls, cinnamon buns, plant balls and veggie dogs for in-store dining or takeout. There will also be an "as-is section" featuring gently used products and discontinued items at discounted prices.

Ikea is targeting a late summer opening in the UTC area. It will have 46 employees.

The UTC location will be the sixth Ikea store in Florida. Others are in Tampa, Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville and Sunrise. There are also “plan and order” points that offer pickup at select Best Buy locations around the state, including in Lakeland.

“Sarasota is a growing area with a strong sense of community, and we’re pleased to be opening a store in such a welcoming place,” Ikea Tampa Market Manager Laetitia Gouverneur says in a statement. “We’re committed to making it easier for local residents to experience Ikea, bringing the dream of a better home within reach for the local Sarasota community.”

This is a developing story and may be updated.