MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Furniture store IKEA has broken ground on what will be its first Tennessee location in Memphis.
Local media outlets report that city, county and IKEA leaders were at the groundbreaking ceremony Thursday morning. The store is set to open in fall 2016.
IKEA Memphis will take up 35 acres and 271,000 square feet. The store will sell furniture and accessories and will feature IKEA's Swedish food market and a 300-seat restaurant.
IKEA overcame its dispute with the county tax assessor on the tax appraisal of the property. The joint city-county Economic Development Growth Engine accepted the store's original rate as set in January.
The store plans to hire as many as 225 workers with an average salary of $41,000 with full benefits.