WESTLAKE, Ohio — IKEA shoppers won't have to drive to Pittsburgh or Columbus much longer. The developer of Crocker Park announced Tuesday morning that the home furnishings giant is coming to Westlake next year.
"Bringing IKEA to Crocker Park has been years in the making," Ezra Stark, CEO of Cleveland-based Stark Enterprises, said in a news release. "This announcement reflects years of strategic planning, strong partnerships, and our commitment to continually elevating Crocker Park with brands people truly want to experience."
IKEA has been looking for the right site in Northeast Ohio for years.
The retailer had a potential deal in Brooklyn in 2014, signing a purchase agreement with the Plain Dealer Publishing Co. for 16 acres just north of the newspaper's printing plant off Tiedeman Road. That deal ultimately died in 2016 because of concerns about wetlands on the property and a protracted review by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
IKEA later considered the site of the failed Bridgeview Crossing shopping center in Garfield Heights for a standalone store. But the company walked away from that location in 2018. Now that property, off Interstate 480 and Transportation Boulevard, is earmarked for a new Cuyahoga County jail.
Now the search is finally over, and a small-format IKEA is on the way.
The Crocker Park store will fill the former Dick's Sporting Goods space, which has a parking garage tucked behind it.
“This is about more than activating a premier retail space — it's about creating a destination that will attract visitors from across the region," Lidia Saluan Richani, executive vice president of leasing for Stark Enterprises, said in a news release
The store is expected to open in spring 2027.
"As we continue growing our presence across the U.S., we're focused on meeting customers where they are and creating more convenient ways to shop with IKEA," Rob Olson, the retailer's chief operating officer for the United States, said in a news release. "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."
The Crocker Park IKEA will span about 80,000 square feet. That's less than a quarter of the size of the Columbus location, which totals 354,000 square feet.
Shoppers in Westlake will be able to buy about 3,250 products on site, including smaller furniture, lighting and textiles. IKEA said there will be more than 5,400 products on display for people to "draw inspiration from." And customers will be able to order larger items, such as beds and sofas, for delivery and in-store pick-up.
And yes, the store will sell Swedish meatballs.
"We're having a Swedish deli that will overlook Crocker Park from the top floor looking out the glass windows," said Stacie Schmidt, vice president of marketing and communications for Stark Enterprises.
Since Crocker Park opened in October 2004, the retail world has changed dramatically — an evolution accelerated by the pandemic. The team at Crêpes in the City, near the future IKEA store, watched that firsthand.
"I think we all took a big hit," said Angelina Soulis, whose family runs the popular food spot that opened just before COVID roiled the economy.
"It was rough, COVID was rough. The foot traffic was not a lot. Everyone was scared," she said. "But now, I think bringing something so big and so fresh and new to this community is going to be amazing."
Earlier this year, the world's largest furniture retailer announced plans to open a wave of new stores across the country.
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IKEA, known for its low-cost, ready-to-assemble furniture and home goods, reported $5.3 billion in total sales for the fiscal year that ended in August 2025.
The retailer has stores in more than 30 countries.
Currently, the closest IKEA stores to Cleveland are in Columbus (115 miles away) and Pittsburgh (107 miles away).
News 5 reporter Michelle Jarboe contributed to this story.
