By Chris Colgan – Real Nova Network
Credit: Michael Neibauer, Washington Business Journal
Ikea may be cooking up something much bigger than Swedish meatballs in Chantilly — a potential new store.
What We Know So Far
Back in July, paperwork filed with Fairfax County revealed plans for an Ikea-branded 142-seat restaurant at 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center, the same site as the Dulles Expo Center. While that application was withdrawn shortly after, the story didn’t end there.
According to an official Ikea U.S. document, “Ikea Chantilly” is listed as a store location, following future stores already announced in Pharr, Texas, and Syracuse, New York. Meanwhile, freelance designers across the globe — from the U.K. to Portugal to Helsinki — have listed “Ikea Chantilly” as part of their recent projects.
Smaller Format, Big Possibilities
If the Chantilly location moves forward, it’s expected to be one of Ikea’s newer “small-format” stores — larger than the 4,000–6,000 sq. ft. plan-and-order outposts (like Pentagon City or Fairfax), but smaller than the massive showrooms in Woodbridge and College Park.
To give perspective:
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Pharr, TX store: 44,000 sq. ft., 1,600 products
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Syracuse, NY store: 70,000 sq. ft., 3,000 items
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Dallas, TX store (opening this year): 63,000 sq. ft., 3,200 products
Chantilly would likely fall somewhere in that range, possibly with its own restaurant, given the original application.
Community Reaction
I talked to Mike Walker, a Chantilly resident and longtime Ikea fan, who told me he’s excited about the possibility. His biggest hope? That the store will make it easier for locals to pick up items without always trekking to the big-box locations in Woodbridge or College Park.
Still Under Wraps
For now, Ikea has declined to comment, and no official permits or leases have surfaced. Marketing materials for the Dulles Expo Shopping Center do note development opportunities and available retail space, leaving the door wide open for speculation.
If confirmed, the Chantilly store would be Ikea’s next major step in Northern Virginia, bridging the gap between its massive regional locations and its smaller, more accessible design centers.
Chris Colgan – Real Nova Network
www.colganteam.com
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