IKEA plans Memphis store

FILE - This June 18, 2008 file photo shows Ikea signage at New York City's first Ikea store, in Brooklyn.

(Photo: Mark Lennihan, AP)

Swedish furniture giant Ikea will open a store in Memphis, its first in the Mid-South, the company confirmed late Monday night in a press release.

"IKEA, the world's leading home furnishing's retailer, will announce plans Tuesday morning for a proposed Memphis store," the press release stated. "The proposed IKEA Memphis would be the first IKEA store in either Tennessee, Arkansas or Mississippi, and would increase the Swedish retailer's presence in the Southeastern U.S."

The press release said that details of the plan, including exact location, size of the store, opening date and number of potential employees, will be announced at the 11 a.m. press conference Tuesday. Company representatives, plus Memphis Mayor A C Wharton and County Mayor Mark Luttrell, are scheduled to attend.

The late-night announcement confirmed a day of speculation about an Ikea project that surfaced Monday after Wharton's office scheduled a press conference for Tuesday in City Hall.

Read more about IKEA coming to Memphis on the Commercial Appeal's site.