Wall Street Journalさんのインスタグラム写真 - (Wall Street JournalInstagram)「IKEA thinks it can succeed where a string of other retailers have given up—in San Francisco’s beleaguered downtown district.⁠ ⁠ Three years after acquiring a desolate mall in the city’s Mid-Market corridor, IKEA is set to open Wednesday in a downtown district that has been hollowed out by an exodus of workers and has struggled with crime, homelessness and drug abuse.⁠ ⁠ The opening will put to the test a new format that the Swedish furniture company is rolling out globally—a pared-back store aimed at casual shoppers and office workers that is far smaller than the huge out-of-town sites for which IKEA is best known. ⁠ ⁠ IKEA says global demand for its flat-pack furniture and other housewares is higher than ever, partly boosted by its efforts to hold down prices. That is driving a wave of expansion. IKEA already has 54 U.S. stores, including the soon-to-open location in San Francisco, and said in April it would add another 17 by 2026.⁠ ⁠ The San Francisco store is focused on “small-space living,” said Arda Akalin, the store manager, meaning products such as lighting, kitchenware and storage units are given priority. There is no furniture warehouse where customers can buy bed frames or bookshelves on-site, though furniture will still be on display and can be ordered for delivery. The traditional IKEA restaurant will be condensed into a “Swedish deli” where customers can order meatballs and other IKEA staples on touch screens.⁠ ⁠ The company has a particular interest in drawing shoppers back to downtown San Francisco.⁠ ⁠ Ingka, the company that operates most IKEA stores, has been branching into real estate and now owns 51 malls globally, including the one in San Francisco. Many of its malls are anchored by IKEA stores.⁠ ⁠ Read more at the link in our bio.⁠ ⁠ 📷: @jahwai for @wsjphotos」8月23日 0時01分