News that IKEA is about to make a major announcement in Halifax Friday morning is being greeted by disappointment in the Moncton area, where a municipal councillor has spent two years trying to lure the Swedish retailer to the hub city.
Riverview councillor Andrew LeBlanc says he has been trying to get IKEA’s attention since 2014, penning a letter to the president which highlighted everything Greater Moncton has to offer the retail giant.
He says the response from IKEA was swift.
“They thanked us for the interest and said they were going to pass it along to the committee that decides where they’re going to have the locations across the country,” explains LeBlanc.
It appears that committee has chosen Halifax.
IKEA Canada President Stefan Sjostrand is expected to make an announcement Friday, along with Halifax Mayor Mike Savage.
“A little disappointed that the possibility may not be Greater Moncton,” LeBlanc adds. “But it’s still a win for the Maritime region.”
IKEA had a store in Dartmouth in 1975, but it closed 13 years later.
As people in the Halifax-area wait for Friday’s announcement, shoppers in Moncton say they’re ready to welcome the retail giant back to the Maritimes.
“I’d be happy if it came to Moncton, but if it went to Halifax, it would be fine,” says one shopper. “We’re from P.E.I. so it’s not as far to travel to go to Moncton or Halifax.”
“It would be okay if it came up here,” adds another. “Moncton would be better.”
Councillor LeBlanc agrees.
“The economic spinoff to having a store like IKEA in your backyard is huge,” he says. “It’s great for small business growth locally, as well.”
IKEA’s sales in Canada reached $1.79 billion in 2014-2015.
Ten more stores are planned for the retail giant.
The announcement in Halifax is taking place Friday at 10 a.m.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Jonathan MacInnis.
