Why doesn't The City proposition IKEA about putting a store in Buffalo?

"....we're letting one of the biggest tools for economic growth in this region go to waste". Huh? A small, small portion (namely in the form of minimum-wage salaries and some taxes, if IKEA isn't completely subsidized as an incentive) would be the "economic benefit" to Buffalo. I think the benefit to which you are really alluding is the ability to purchase products affordably--this is not to be confused with economic development.

People are interested in locally-owned for two reasons: more of the bottom-line stays local and it keeps Buffalo unique, authentic and interesting. Keep the big box in the 'burbs.

So a few years back Buffalo asked IKEA to come to Buffalo. They said no, they will only build in an area of 2 million people. Buffalo waited a bit and tried again, even so much as traveling to ask. They said no again. What don't people understand about no?
I think we need to do a study on this. Lets get some proposals together.

A while back there was talk of people wanting to bring an IKEA to the Buffalo area. Problem is that the area doesn't meet their requirements between population and proximity to the store in Burlington.

theyve already been approached, we do not have the population and/or demos to support an Ikea. Closes one is Hamilton not Pittsburg... it's a mere 40 mins away

Before the $1Billion, the city already asked IKEA, and IKEA already said No.

Using the 1Billion to bribe businesses here that already said they couldn't possibly be profitable here doesn't really sound like a good use of the money.

If they're going to use the money to bring companies here, it should be companies that offer thousands of decent-salaried jobs, not retail stores that pay minimum wage. We got plenty of those already.

Check out this site which details IKEA's requirements. The site owner points out Upstate NY as a possible area (his opinion), but I wouldn't hold my breath.
http://www.ikeafans.com/home/ikea-coming-to-my-town-new-stores/

I'm not sure what the City of Buffalo (or name your suburb) has to do with this in terms of Ikea making the decision. Ikea knows that Buffalo exists. If they are thinking of coming here they will do some market/demographic survey to see if it makes sense. If it makes sense they will contact commercial brokers to help them find a site. If the site is appropriate, they will buy or lease it and build a store.

The only thing the city/county/IDA will do is provide the usual no sales tax clause on purchases Ikea makes to building the building, and maybe some other concessions.

But the poster is correct. An Ikea store would be a home run in Buffalo.

I don't get people that think we need to convince businesses to come here? If a company thinks it can be successful and make money in a market, they will come. We do not need to beg and/or incentivize consumer goods stores to come here.

The types of companies that should be begged and pleaded to come are office HQ's, plants, factories. Our government should go out of their way to bring things to the area that produce more for the region than they take in.

The Buffalo Billion you reference has not been used yet, but there are plenty of people working to determine the best way to use it. For once, it sounds like they are taking a strategic approach to find sectors that could transform our economy (the way Albany's tech sector has). In this case, studies and plans are a good thing. The money Cuomo promised us should certainly not be used to bring retailers to Buffalo!

Burlington's population is comparable to Buffalo's metro area, but Burlington is also a close neighbor to Mississauga, Toronto, and Buffalo. So the potential to reach a lot of people is there for Ikea with their current Burlington store.

However, if we could do a better job of marketing the area as inclusive of Buffalo, Rochester, and Toronto, I'd say we might have a better chance of luring more of these brands. I'm one Buffalonian who isn't jaded by national retail. I love trips to Boston, NYC, and Toronto for those reasons, but I'd prefer to do them in Buffalo. And while we're at it, I'd like a Crate & Barrel and Restoration Hardware too please.

It's kind of nice that you have to travel from Buffalo to get IKEA items in your home. After you make the trip, your reward is that very few of your friends and neighbors have the identical items. I've lived in Baltimore, where there are two IKEAs relatively nearby (White Marsh and College Park), and virtually everyone I know in the area has the same IKEA things, and nobody is surprised or impressed by them. Plus it's fun to drive to Burlington and make a day of it. There are some pretty good lunch places, wineries, and a European Food market in the vicinity.

I kinda like crossing the boarder to go to Burlington Ikea. I get to do a nice day trip over there. Go to MEC and their super nice mall, stop at the falls on the way home and eat someplace nice. We go there every couple months for a couple things.

We did do a marathon road trip to pittsburg to buy our kitchen at their Ikea. The 8 hours in the car was worth it to save the retarded shipping prices and compared to th higher prices in Burlington but I would have prefered one a little closer

We don't need IKEA, or Trader Joes or H&M.

Why do we want Buffalo to be "anyplace"? We have a unique thing going here. Why do we need to have these huge (all foreign, BTW) companies locate hear. And why do we want to send our money to Europe??

All of these huge stores sell things at cheap prices because like Walmart, they have learned to produce things cheaply. The 21st century is not about "cheap". It's about quality, and shopping local.

Forget about IKEA. Buy local. Buy quality, and keep the money here.

Here's a thought. I know this sounds crazy. Put the store in Batavia. Yes Batavia. Halfway between Buffalo and Rochester, so it could meet their population standard of 2 million (per the prior poster).

(I am prepared for negative votes.)

Why do some folks on this site continue to think that retail has to be formally invited to the Buffalo area? (How did all the other national retailers get here? Was Panera Bread wooed to open a location?) It's as if retailers have never encountered a map, an internet connection, and experienced people who mine data for them and scout out potential locations. When western New York meets a retailer's standards and the retailer can find the right location at the right price, they move here; it's not more complicated than that.

However, if it makes the author of this article feel better, I suggest putting on a tux and flying to Sweden with a fruit basket in hand to inform the Scandinavians that there is a wonderful place called Buffalo. Then, get on one knee and propose.

Good grief Ikea sucks unless you want cheap crap that'll fall apart in a few years, and you can get that at Value City et al.

This was someone's idea of a serious proposal? To spend the $1 Billion on Ikea? Really? Because this guy hasn't a clue about what's going with it? (here's a hint: you and I ain't getting a dime of it, and the Usual Men are working behind the scenes, don't you fret none)

Everytime I hear someone cry about wanting an IKEA in Buffalo I want to vomit all over them.

We got most of our furniture off the curbs of Buffalo, and now have a respectable, eclectic mix of quality vintage home furnishings.
As for the $1B, how about grants ( 10,000 x $100K or 20,000 x $50K) to homeowners in the City to make repairs and improvements? Seems like $1B could go a long way in this regard. There could be some kind of public raffle/lottery, perhaps with income guidelines or proof-of-need for repairs/improvements.
Imagine 20,000 houses in Buffalo getting a new roof, gutters, paint job, etc.

Why don't we ask them to build it under the new stadium we're going to build for the Bills? You know, it'd be easier if we just burned all our money. Really.

IKEA ain't coming to Buffalo, folks. Ever. Give it up. No need to get defensive with "who needs them, anyhow?" comments; there's far more lucrative markets in the US where they have yet to open stores. Also, Buffalo has historically been at the bottom of the list in the expansion plans of major retail and restaurant chains.

IKEA's population thresholds for the United States are much higher than for Europe and Canadas. The Winnipeg metro area has about 750,000 residents, there are no other nearby large cities, and they're getting an IKEA. Charleroi, Belgium, a battered industrial city that makes Niagara Falls look like a boomtown in comparison, has a metro area of about 550,000, and they're getting an IKEA. Beykjavik, Iceland - the entire country has only 300,000 people, and they have an IKEA.

Travelrrr had it right. We really don't want these outside stores. There is nothing better than home grown, and Buffalo has a lot. In fact, I make it a point to not go to any chain stores for dinner, and I also make it a point to only visit restaurants in the city proper. To hell with the suburbs.

It is simple economics. What goes in minus what goes out. Look at the city as an entity. Whatever it makes and exports out of the city less what it buys from other cities. Let's look at 7-11. It is owned by a Dallas company.... that means all profits go to TX (out of the city). Then look at something like Salens. They export to cities outside of the region. They bring money into the city....and build things like Salens Soccer Parks....

This is very simplified, and the equation changes with ownership and manufacturing issues, however, the end result never changes. Look at your family. There is a bread winner. And then there are spenders. Money in less money out.

One last thing. Foreign cars! Why ever buy one? Because they last longer...Bull. More economical, nope. They are status symbols. The whole idea is money in less money out. Even if the car is manufactured in the US, the profits leave the country.

The point is buy local and your locality will prosper.

Remember we had a hip store like this at one time...it was called Willis and Lowe? Yet they didn't get the community support financially to survive. Remember it was where that new Co-Op building that was going to destroy the strip? ;) Make the drive to Hamilton or Pittsburgh. Not the end of the world.

I'd love to have an IKEA within a 1-2 hour driving distance from Buffalo. The Canadian ones tend to be a little bit pricier and I believe the taxes are higher. (Is it possible to get your tax back at the border? I'm not sure.) Also, if you have an Ikea (credit) card, they are not accepted at Ikea in Canada. I've been to the one in Burlington a few times and it's fine, but something in the Batavia / Rochester area would do great. It isn't just for the City of Buffalo, but for the entire region.

Yes of course it's great to buy locally made, but find me a locally made furniture shop with prices and design asthetic in the Ikea ballpark. Sometimes you just like what you like. (Same goes for Trader Joe's and CRATE and FREAKIN' BARREL...) IKEA is a radically different design concept from anything out here currently. I'm not making better / worse judgements, just making a point.

I'm not holding my breath, as I don't think these more 'modern' chains think much of the Buffalo area, but I'm still hopeful. I have no idea what business math and stats these places to do figure out future profits, population, &tc., but apparently it just isn't right out here yet for (most of) them.

Buffalo should never beg! It needs to keep its dignity on.

Hopefully, in the near future, lots of businesses will be courting instead of being coaxed.

If the writer really wants enough stuff from IKEA that it will cost $350 to ship he should rent a minivan for $80 a day unlimited mileage. I bet if you Priceline it you should get it for less. I been to the one in Burlington a few times and never bought anything. Personally think IKEA is a bit overrated but, that’s only my opinion.

The key word is authentic. Sure I can go into the store and buy bottled water from some source in Pennsylvania where the profits flow to some destructive multinational in Europe hellbent on keeping the poor, well, poor.

I don't. I get my water from Lake Erie in Buffalo, not Hamburg or somewhere in the burbs. Why? Because it is authentic, ergo, I am authentic and my water is authentic and the person I inject myself into is a byproduct of my inherent authenticity.

Believe it not, it's us against them at many levels. And if you want Buffalo to thrive, buy Buffalo! Hey at different levels different rules apply. I'm rooting for US athletes even though I have nothing in common with them except we're American.

There is nothing wrong with buying from Walmart because it's a US company and profits come back to the US. If there were a Buffalo equivalent, choose that.

What I am saying is that much like Buffalo has been "beaten " by other cities in the US, the US can be beaten by other countries and similarly fall on hard times. The when, move to a more desirable country. Probably won't happen over night, but it could happen to your kids.

Anyway, foreign car resale thing doesn't make sense. Even used, buying a foreign car gives greater demand to that brand and makes the US equivalent less valuable. Living alone in the world without affiliation to anyone or anything, I can see your point of view. But for the rest of us, buy US and buy Buffalo..... If you can.

And yes, to many KIA is a status symbol.

If Buffalo doesn't meet Ikea's requirements for population, perhaps they would do well with a scaled-down version suited to the area's needs.

Admittedly, their biggest sellers are probably the furniture and showrooms, but nearly half their sales floor is dedicated to smaller items and food court.

If I was Ikea, I'd at least consider a smaller version of their usual stores that only sells decor, kitchen gadgets and storage components, has one of their food courts, and perhaps acts as a pick-up center for furniture ordered online... less footprint needed for their showrooms and storage, and it gets their foot in the door to the area.

Is Ikea...a must have like Kittinger??....whats wrong with supporting local retail furniture stores here in the Buffalo area??...dont tell me the quality or pricing is better...there is a very competitive market for furniture here.

I like the cafeteria food. I like how they give you measuring tape and little golf pencils so that I feel like a good consumer as I measure each product and make my little list of items to purchase. But damn--I was unable to find a single piece of Ikea furniture without a sharp corner/edge.

As far as demographics, Buffalo could support an IKEA. But when these companies do their market analyses it's hard for a big box giant to justify moving here (49th largest MSA) when they see consistent pop. decline since the 1970's (less customer base). unfortunate but true.

If one does ever get built, mark my words, it'll be in Amherst.

There are numerous metros the size of Buffalo that don't have an IKEA and many of them never will. Some retailers simply require a larger market area for their stores. I don't see anyone crying about the fact that Bloomingdales and Nordstroms aren't here either.

For crying out loud give it a rest!!! Who cares about Ikea, really

It is obvious that IKEA does not want to come to Buffalo because the population is still in decline and the market base is too small. Lets accept this fact and move onto more important topics. IKEA is currently not interested in the Buffalo Metro Area. Even if IKEA wanted to come to Western New York, they would most likely locate in either Amherst, Clarence, or Orchard Park. The City of Buffalo would be rejected as a location by IKEA because the city is so hostile towards business and its municipal services are not up to par.

Yeah, this issue is pretty much like beating a dead horse. We have two relatively close IKEAs (I mean, 4 hours to Pittsburgh is kinda far, but from what I have heard, it's a pretty beautiful city to make a day trip out of). I wouldn't be surprised if IKEA included the proximity and population of the Buffalo-Niagara region when they decided to build in the Golden Horseshoe.

If cities like Pitsburgh and Cincinnati have Ikea and Trader Joes I find it hard to understand why Buffalo can't support these stores just as well.

I never understood the fascination with Ikea....it always reminded me of Target except you usually waste entire afternoon driving to it and navigating your way through the nauseating large building.....only to come away with a few geometric plastic containers to put your cookware in and a couple of generic pieces of mall art of Wassily KAndinsky and Ansel Adams.....What I'm really waiting for is the Wegmans to be built at the outer harbor

I do not see the allure of IKEA. Call me sentimental, but I like the old furniture that involved real wood and real joinery. A great thing about Buffalo is that there is enough of that old furniture around to supply the current population and then some. And it's cheap. Plenty of used furniture stores out there. Not trying to tell anyone how to live their life, just saying that I am one citizen with zero interest in spending time or money courting a big box like IKEA. And that's my piece.

IKEA's product is cheap glued together crap, who wants the stuff anyway.

For having such crappy demographics we sure get a lot of wealthy southern Ontatio residents coming over to spend money in our low grade realilers like Boss, Coach, M Kors, Oakley, Wegmans, Premier, Williams Sonoma, Black House White Mkt, etc. etc. etc.

Wow - The writer moved from the suburbs into the city, wants
to promote an idea of attracting successful businesses
to Buffalo, and wonders aloud what we are doing
with monies promised to be used for incentives.
And a lot of you offered your snobby, I know better than you
comments. REALLY?!
Besides offering additional facts to support why this may not work, do you think you could be POSITIVE and reinforce the excitement of someone trying entertain an idea about promoting more businesses in the area - particularly one that is very successful and offers a good product- REALLY?!
This is one of the main problems relating to lack of progress in Buffalo - too many negative thinkers who think they know it all.
Come on people. Let's work together, educate one another, but be positive and encouraging. REALLY!