Swedish home furnishings retailer IKEA’s shopping malls arm, Ingka Centres, part of the Ingka Group (which also includes IKEA Retail and Ingka Investments), has acquired the 6X6 building in downtown San Francisco from MSP Property LLP, a company controlled and owned by Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc. and TMG Partners.
The company plans to transform and redesign the 6X6 building at 945 Market Street into a new retail destination that’s anchored by IKEA and complemented with mixed-use offerings that are uniquely suited for San Franciscans and their lifestyle. The IKEA store and first phase of redevelopment are slated to open in fall 2021.
”The property comprises over 375,000 square feet, including the building’s parking lot. Its gross leasable area is approximately 256,000 square feet, and the volume of investment including acquisition and future redevelopment is $260 million,” the company said in a press release.
The acquisition is Ingka Centres’ first in the U.S., representing a milestone for the company, which in 2018 announced a new strategic vision and investment of €7.3bn (approximately $8.6bn) to transform its business in response to the changing retail environment.
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“Our urban projects are all about getting closer to our customers. 6X6 is an impressive six-floor glass building, with smart modern design and internal areas that provide the ideal canvas to create something truly spectacular. We believe Ingka Centres can transform the performance of well-located assets like 6X6 by aligning their offers to how people want to spend their time. We’re so excited about the potential that 6X6 building represents to Ingka Centres and local communities,” said Gerard Groener, Ingka Centres’ General Manager.
”It’s an exciting time for IKEA Retail U.S. as we enter this next phase of our expansion into major U.S. cities. Globally, IKEA is evolving to be more convenient for customers wherever they are. We feel energized by the opportunity to bring a new, more accessible shopping experience to the many customers in San Francisco. It has been a pleasure working with Mayor London Breed and her office on this project and we look forward to meeting our new neighbors in the future,” said IKEA Retail U.S. President Javier Quiñones.
6X6 will be Ingka Centres’ second mixed-use project in a downtown location, following the company’s acquisition of Kings Mall in London’s Hammersmith earlier this year. The company is evaluating opportunities within 40 major cities across Europe, Russia, North America, Asia and Oceania to introduce their vibrant, urban destinations. In the U.S., the company is actively targeting sites for similar projects in New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago.
