Business & Tech
IKEA's Expo Center Plans Concern Exhibitors Over Loss Of Event Space
With IKEA planning to open a new mid-sized store at the Dulles Expo Center, exhibitors expressed concerns over the loss of event space.
CHANTILLY, VA — While fans of minimalistic, Scandinavian housewares may be excited about the prospect of an IKEA store opening at the Dulles Expo Center, vendors and promoters are concerned about the loss of 100,000-square-feet of event space, according to reports.
The Swedish retailer filed an application with Fairfax County for an Ikea Chantilly located at 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center, occupying the southern portion of the Dulles Expo Center, WBJ reported in September. The application sought approval to build a 142-seat restaurant that would be open year-round and serve 101-400 patrons per day.
Related: Ikea Considering Full-Service Restaurant/Store In NoVA: Report
Find out what's happening in Restonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Without a clear replacement available in either Fairfax or Loudoun counties, vendors and exhibitors that have routinely booked the expo center for multi-day events may lose significant revenue, according to WBJ.
“We do not have a signed contract for 2026,” Marketplace Events CEO Mark White told WBJ's Michael Neibauer. “We were given every indication that we would get a contract for 2026 before this [Ikea] news and we’ve been selling accordingly.”
Find out what's happening in Restonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Read the Washington Business Journal's full story.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
