IKEA breaks ground on Kansas City store

Home furnishings giant IKEA will break ground on Tuesday, July 9, for its Kansas City-area store in Merriam, Kan.

When the new 359,000-sq.-ft. store opens fall 2014 on 19 acres along the eastern side of Interstate-35 and Johnson Drive, it will be the 40th IKEA store in the United States. 

This future IKEA store will feature three model home interiors, 50 room-settings, a supervised children’s play area and a 450-seat restaurant.

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback is expected to attend the ceremony.