IKEA is closing one of its two North Carolina stores on August 30.
The affordable furniture store opened the Providence Road, South Charlotte branch just two years ago. The 356,000-square-foot store located in University City will soon be the state’s only remaining location.
The closing IKEA was different than the typically Scandinavian store; there were no Swedish meatballs or furniture for sale. It was part of the chain’s “plan and order” trial shops where customers could speak with employees to plan their intended interior design. The location also offered pick-up orders.
The new structure was a U.S. growth strategy and intended “to meet customers where they are and how they like to shop”, IKEA told The Charlotte Observer in a statement.
It is currently unknown why the store is closing. IKEA told the outlet that it wants to continue investing in new shopping experiences, including “home delivery, pick-up services and digital capabilities.” It is unclear how many employees will be impacted.
IKEA told the US Sun that they are closing the Providence Road store as “part of our strategy to build a more affordable, accessible, and sustainable future for IKEA in the US”.
The statement continues, “We continue to test, explore, and develop new ways for customers to meet IKEA, while investing in home delivery, pick-up services and our online experience.
The furniture company added that customers in the midst of projects should finish them quickly or transfer to another location.
“If you have a current kitchen, room or business planning project open at IKEA South Charlotte Plan and order point with pick-up, you can complete it before the store closes or switch it over to any other IKEA store or online with a remote planner.”