Ikea Malaysia says its second store located at Jalan Cochrane, Cheras. is on track to open at the end of November.

The timing was revealed at the store’s roof capping ceremony, a Swedish tradition to celebrate the end of construction and thank neighbours who helped out in the building phase.

“Come November, Ikea Cheras will provide more Malaysians with Swedish home furnishings that are well-designed, functional, affordable and good quality,” said Mike King, retail director, Ikea Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

“The new Ikea store is part our overall ambition to expand in Southeast Asia. Our entry into Cheras neighbourhood reflects our vision to create a better everyday life for the many people.”

Ikea Cheras will provide Malaysians with greater convenience and a wide selection of home furnishing inspiration and solutions at incredibly low prices. The store has 41,000 sqm of shopping space, 20 per cent more than the Damansara store. Ikea Cheras is also located a five minute drive from the city centre, accessible from MAJU Expressway and Smart highways, and connects to the Cochrane MRT station (to be completed in 2017).

As the opening fast approaches, the team is now in the midst of interior fittings, operational setup and co-workers’ training. To support its overall operation, a nationwide recruitment exercise was carried out recently.

“We had an overwhelming response of which we hired a great mix of over 300 co-workers of various talent and expertise. With the passionate and committed co-workers we have on-board, this new store ensures more Malaysians will get a chance to enjoy the unique Ikea store experience many have come to know and love,” added King.

Ikea Cheras will be one of the first few retail developments to be ready in the booming township. The new iconic landmark spots the potential in transforming Cheras into a vibrant retail destination, drawing upon the liveliness Ikea brings to Mutiara Damansara with its standalone store since 2003.