Photography courtesy of Rainchill, Wikimedia Commons
Last October, I wrote that St. Louis should be miffed that suburban Kansas City had landed an IKEA. I said an IKEA would help our image and self-esteem.
The commentary seemed to create quite a buzz. I was told there was a bevy of Twitter activity, and I received numerous emails and phone calls.
Much of the reaction was negative. Among two of the comments posted in reaction:
“Save your IKEA lust for your trips to the big suburbs of the bigger cities, but please please please focus your energies on what makes St. Louis unique and wonderful, and stop complaining—we've dodged a Scandinavian bullet here.”
“When we stop trying to ape Chicago or Portland or wherever else, solve our unique and not-so-unique problems, and just become the city that best reflects what we want it to be, then we'll be successful—and probably that's when IKEA will want to come to town, too.”
Then, last Wednesday, IKEA announced that a location will be coming to town.
It was a coup for St. Louis—particularly for the city.
At one time, my guess would have been that when, and if, St. Louis was ever selected for an IKEA, the store would be closer to Chesterfield or Highland, Ill. Instead, its future site is near the intersection of Forest Park Parkway and Vandeventer, in the city. Located close to both I-44 and I-64, the store will draw customers from suburbia.
(By chance, I drive past the designated site each week en route to the Nine Network's studios. Over time, I've watched the demise of Hollywood Motors and a BP gas station at the intersection's southwest corner; both buildings were razed, leaving a huge open lot in prime commercial real-estate territory. Who knew that IKEA was looking at the site?)
By Monday, the Post-Dispatch story on IKEA’s intentions had more than 80 comments, with many being negative. Several people called IKEA’s merchandise cheap and criticized the store for having the gall to offer furniture that requires assembly. (My guess is that those folks have never purchased anything from an IKEA store; after my wife and I purchased a bed at an IKEA in northern Virginia, we assembled the frame—twice. If we can do it, anyone can.)
Other commenters trashed the city for its crime. I'm also sometimes critical of St. Louis and its elected leaders, though such shortcomings should not deter celebrating the announcement.
Of course, the new store won’t solve the city’s problems—and it will be almost two years before the doors open, if all goes as planned.
But at least we'll no longer be without an IKEA.
Commentary by Alvin Reid
