[Rascacielo]

The press release from March indicated that Ingka Centres purchased "12,270 sq. m (132,070 sq. ft) of gross leasable area across 3-floors. Ingka Centres will redevelop the property into a new destination, with the IKEA Toronto Downtown Store set to span 6,148 sq. m (66,175 sq ft) of the ground and second floor".

I guess that means that Ingka also now owns the 3rd floor where Marshalls is currently located? Could they be waiting for the lease with TJX to expire and then have Ikea/Ingka take over the 3rd floor as well? Or possibly, they could offer an incentive for Marshalls to leave early, just like what happened with Reds/Scaddabush/Duke's on the ground floor.

Also, who owns the 4th floor of the podium, where the Hard Candy / Crunch / No Name gym was operating?

I think that’s where the condo gym is now. Even when Hard Candy was there, the members shared the gym with Aura residents. I’m guessing the condo corp (or corps, there are 2 in Aura) own the gym.

 

[A Torontonian Now]

Taken July 31:

 

[Northern Light]

As per retail insider, construction on the new IKEA and related works is now under way.

Link here: https://retail-insider.com/bulletin/2021/08/construction-begins-for-new-downtown-toronto-ikea-store/

From said article, a look at the new hoarding.

IKEA Construction - The Aura at College Park . Photo: Dustin Fuhs

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

As per retail insider, construction on the new IKEA and related works is now under way.

Link here: https://retail-insider.com/bulletin/2021/08/construction-begins-for-new-downtown-toronto-ikea-store/

From said article, a look at the new hoarding.

View attachment 341720
IKEA Construction - The Aura at College Park . Photo: Dustin Fuhs

I truly hope the new owner get rid of that tacky video display and clean the facade a bit. The faux limestone looks anything but limestone like - except for the way it stains.

AoD

 

[Tarazet]

The moon setting behind Aura this morning.

 

[soundmuseum]

Are there any updates on the construction of the upcoming IKEA location? The website is still saying it will open in "early 2022".

 

[Koops65]

In the near future, Aura won't look so lonely on the skyline:

 

[TossYourJacket]

Are there any updates on the construction of the upcoming IKEA location? The website is still saying it will open in "early 2022".

You can see some of the display rooms through the second floor windows along Yonge, which seems like a good sign of progress.

 

[denfromoakvillemilton]

Such a credit to our skyline. Honestly.

 

[turini2]

Ikea opens first city centre shopping mall in west London

On Thursday, the Swedish furniture giant’s £170m experiment on the west London shopping mall will be tested with the opening of Livat, its first city centre shopping mall globally and the first to be refurbished rather than built from scratch. The former Kings Mall is now fully let, with new tenants including German discount supermarket Lidl, a Library of Things (a social enterprise) and Sook, the rent-by-the hour retail or events space, alongside an Ikea’s outlet ... only high street store in the UK ...quarter the size of a typical Ikea.
The mall, which Ikea spent £170m on buying and redeveloping, will include a small market hall for local food pop-ups alongside Ikea’s own Swedish Deli and two further cafes offering meatballs, open sandwiches and coffees.

Andersen said Ikea was “actively searching” for more urban sites to redevelop in cities in the UK and across Europe and North America. The group is meanwhile redeveloping Toronto’s Aura Podium which formerly housed a branch of Bed, Bath & Beyond and some restaurants.

 

[interchange42]

The group is meanwhile redeveloping Toronto’s Aura Podium which formerly housed a branch of Bed, Bath & Beyond and some restaurants.

I assume they are only referring to the former restaurants at ground level… but if anyone dares to venture into the Aura's underground to update us on it sometime, well, your deeds of bravery will be legendary here if you post photos.

42

 

[dFish]

Do anyone know the entrance to IKEA, will it connect to subway directly or have to go through the basement level (stores)?

 

[Northern Light]

Do anyone know the entrance to IKEA, will it connect to subway directly or have to go through the basement level (stores)?

There is no direct connection to College Station contemplated at this time.

So you would have to use the basement connection to College Park if you wanted to get there without going outside.

There will be a somewhat closer connection to the station when the new second exit opens, but that is still within College Park, just further south.

From: https://ttc-cdn.azureedge.net/-/med...bb3c84a&hash=EA7BF9715ED475A9CA569DF3399CA3D3

 

[dFish]

Thanks a lot. Very informative. Therefore IKEA will need to go through the basement to subway. It will be a good news for the Aura basement store owner, the basement has been so dead and feel like in a 3rd world country market with many small stores,

 

[Northern Light]

Thanks a lot. Very informative.

You're welcome.

Therefore IKEA will need to go through the basement to subway.

IF they want to get there without going outside, yes.

It will be a good news for the Aura basement store owner, the basement has been so dead and feel like in a 3rd world country market with many small stores,

Maybe; but I'm inclined to think it won't make a huge difference.

Unfortunately.

The underground connection is very awkward, most people never use it, in part, for that reason.

If Ikea isn't on the basement level, and my understanding is that it won't be, I'm not sure I see people exiting at grade-level and then going downstairs in Aura, order to access the subway.

It's a nice thought, a a connection may be plausible in the future.

Though, when you look at where the station box ends............it's a bit of a reach.