IKEA’s Strategic Move: Closing Bolingbrook Store and Opening Smaller Format in Naperville

IKEA has announced plans to close its large store in Bolingbrook and open a smaller version in Naperville’s Block 59 development. This decision reflects a shift in consumer habits across the Bolingbrook-Naperville corridor. Sam Gravina, Chicago metro market manager for IKEA, explained that relocating to Naperville positions the store closer to growing population centers while remaining accessible to existing Bolingbrook customers.

The current two-story Bolingbrook store, measuring 317,000 square feet, will continue operations until late 2027. The new Naperville store is projected to open around the same time, situated eight miles away from the Bolingbrook location. The new store will feature a smaller format, marking a departure from IKEA’s typical large store model. Gravina mentioned that the store’s exact location off Route 59 and its offerings remain undisclosed but assured that it will be designed to meet market needs while maintaining the inspiration and functionality that customers expect from IKEA.

Despite its smaller size, Naperville’s IKEA will still offer the brand’s Swedish Deli and Food Market, including their classic meatballs. The store aims to complement the flagship Schaumburg location, roughly a 30-minute drive away. The shift to smaller format stores is part of IKEA’s broader strategy, already implemented in various locations, including a new store in Gurnee and others in Culver City, California, and Phoenix, Arizona. There have been closures of similar format stores, such as a store in San Marcos, Texas, after only a year of operation and planned closures in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

IKEA’s entry into Naperville could boost local home goods and furniture sales, an area considered lagging by city officials. Furniture and electronics sales in Naperville reached $257 million last year, up 30.3% from 2024 but still behind Glenview and Schaumburg in revenue. However, Naperville leads in various retail categories, including grocery and automotive sales.

Brixmor Property Group, responsible for Block 59’s redevelopment, sought an additional $1.85 million tax incentive to attract a home goods retailer, which was approved. A special 1% sales tax within the district supports infrastructure development costs. While the identity of the retailer benefiting from the incentive was not confirmed, businesses in the district have been rearranged to accommodate the new tenant.