Ikea is officially setting up shop inside Gurnee Mills, delivering Lake County shoppers a closer option than the blue-and-yellow giants in Schaumburg or Bolingbrook. The new location will carve out a chunk of the former Sears Grand space and is pitched as a compact Ikea that still packs in ready-to-take-home furniture, in-store planning help and the chain’s much-loved food counter.
In a recent summary of its upcoming growth plans, Ikea described the Gurnee Mills store as part of its FY25 expansion push and one of four new U.S. locations slated for 2026, a lineup that also includes sites in Chicago, Tulsa, Fort Collins and Los Angeles. The company highlighted the move toward smaller-format stores and more pickup options as a way to bring the brand closer to customers across the country and did not pin down a specific opening date for Gurnee in the announcement, according to the IKEA U.S. Newsroom.
Where It Will Be And What It Will Sell
The new store is planned for 6136 W. Grand Avenue inside Gurnee Mills, taking up about 66,000 square feet, according to local coverage. That footprint is expected to hold roughly 3,000 items that shoppers can carry out immediately along with about 600 smaller furniture pieces. It will also serve up the familiar Ikea Food staples, including meatballs, plant balls, hot dogs and cinnamon buns, as laid out by NBC Chicago.
How The Mall Made Room For Ikea
The arrival of Ikea caps a multi-stage remake of the old Sears Grand anchor spot at Gurnee Mills. The village board signed off on up to $2 million in incentives to help prep the remaining space, and mall owner Simon Property Group and the incoming tenant are expected to invest about $12 million privately, the Daily Herald reports. Earlier slices of the former Sears Grand were already transformed into space for Hobby Lobby and Round One, leaving roughly 66,000 square feet available for this latest tenant.
Gurnee Mills is already on Ikea’s map in a smaller way. Simon’s property listing shows an existing IKEA pick-up point at the mall, a sign that the retailer has been quietly building its presence there over time. That listing also illustrates how Ikea is layering compact services, such as pickup locations, alongside its larger traditional stores as part of its U.S. rollout, according to Simon Property Group.
When To Expect It And Next Steps
Ikea has placed the Gurnee Mills store in its group of 2026 openings, describing it as planned for next year and folded into the company’s broader U.S. expansion, per the IKEA U.S. Newsroom. The retailer is not yet offering an exact opening day, so shoppers will have to wait a bit before plotting out their flat-pack runs.
"Construction is expected to begin in January or February and be open for the 2026 holidays," the Daily Herald reported. Mall representatives and Ikea officials say they will release more details on hiring and timing as the project moves forward. When the doors do open, shoppers can look for a smaller-format Ikea that combines pickup and delivery options with in-store planning services and the chain’s familiar food offerings.
