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Madison’s first IKEA now expected to open in spring 2027
IKEA has postponed the opening of its 54,000-square-foot west-side Madison store, which had been expected to welcome shoppers this fall. The company has not said why the schedule changed.
Madison’s first IKEA is now expected to open next spring, delaying the store’s planned debut at Prairie Towne Center on the city’s west side.
The Swedish retailer had announced plans in May to open the store this fall at 215 Junction Road, near the Beltline and Mineral Point Road. An IKEA representative confirmed the revised timing but did not provide a reason for the delay or a specific opening date. The company said it expects to share more information closer to spring.
Construction is underway at the site, where workers are combining three former retail spaces — an eye clinic, a Party City and a Bed Bath & Beyond — into a 54,000-square-foot store. A building permit was issued July 20.
The project could bring more shoppers to a shopping center that has struggled with vacancies, said Steven Deller, a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor emeritus of agriculture and applied economics. He described the reuse of the empty spaces as a positive for the area’s retail activity.
The Madison location will use a smaller format than IKEA’s Wisconsin store in Oak Creek. It is planned to display about 5,000 products, with roughly 3,000 available to buy in person. Larger items, including sofas and beds, will need to be ordered for delivery or pickup.
The store is also expected to include a consultation area where customers can work with IKEA planners, a small section for discounted or gently used goods, and a Swedish deli. The Oak Creek store, by comparison, spans 290,000 square feet and carries nearly 10,000 items.
IKEA has said the Madison store is part of a broader effort to reach customers in smaller cities and suburbs. The company announced plans in March to open 20 smaller-format stores across North America and Europe by late 2026.
Deller said Madison’s population growth and its mix of young professionals and University of Wisconsin students make the area attractive to the retailer. Dane County communities have grown rapidly since the 2020 census, according to state population estimates.
IKEA’s existing Madison-area services include two online order pickup locations: one at the University Book Store on State Street and another at the university’s distribution center on the Beltline.