But realistically, I'm sure the area can't support two IKEAs.
Maybe. On the other hand, a second location at an opposite end of the Metroplex might actually be able to do well without cannibalizing their Frisco location too much. What makes IKEA different than a lot of the Dallas-only retailers that people here often wish would open a Fort Worth location is that they have low prices - which means that their potential customer base is much larger. The difficulty for high end retailers opening additional locations is that only a fairly small percentage of the population can afford to shop at such stores frequently enough to be viable customers. And higher end stores tend to be
extremely vulnerable during economic downturns - which is something that, if they are responsible, they have to factor in when making expansion plans.
My guess is there are probably quite a lot of people in the Metroplex who might be inclined to shop IKEA if it were not for the very time consuming and offputting drive up to Frisco. And my guess is the reason they chose Frisco as the place to open their Metroplex location is because it is in close proximity to the areas with the greatest concentration of new home construction. People who buy new homes generally need to buy furniture - and even those with budgets that allow for furniture which is far more higher end than what IKEA offers or who have more traditional tastes than IKEAS often modernistic designs will still find the place useful when it comes to utility rooms, shelving, etc.
My guess is that their primary consideration is not so much whether the Metroplex could support a second location but rather whether it makes more sense to open such a second location when there are quite a number of markets in the country where they still do not have any nearby presence at all.
Personally, the chains I would like to see open a Fort Worth location include:
MicroCenter They offer computer and computer equipment at VERY decent prices. Unfortunately, the only Texas locations they have are Richardson and Houston - and getting to their Richardson location is NOT a fun drive.
Frys Electronics I hate having to drive to go to the one in Arlington. There is one in Irving not too far from where I work - but the only route to get there requires crosstown driving with lots of pesky stop lights.
Sprouts Farmer's Market or one of the other chains that have the same concept. If one was located near where I live or regularly travel buy, I would shop there. Unfortunately, while there are several locations already in the area and scheduled to open up, all of them are too far out of my way to make driving there worth my while.
Dimassis Mediterranean Buffet This is a small chain that has several locations in Houston as well as one in Austin and on Preston Road in North Dallas. When I first discovered them back when they were still a Houston only company, they were called Dimassi's
Middle Eastern Buffet - the name change was probably a pretty good idea given the world situation and the positive press on the Mediterranean diet. But the offerings on the buffet have remained the same since the name change which will give you an idea of what portion of the Mediterranean they are oriented towards. The evening buffet is $12 - a bit higher than most all you can eat places, but the food is very healthy and they use quality ingredients. I was once disappointed in their Woodlands Texas location - but I got there right before closing time which can make a difference at a buffet. A few months ago I went to the one on Preston Road in Dallas on a Sunday afternoon when there were very few customers - but they kept replacing the items on the buffet with fresh and they had a stone oven from which they kept heaping up piles of freshly baked bread.
FireBowl Cafe This is an Austin based Asian chain - similar to Pei Wei in concept and price but, in my opinion much better. They have three locations in Austin and the one in the Arboretum is always packed when I have been. For whatever reason, all of their expansion outside of Austin has been in either Colorado or a new location they are opening up in Kalamazoo, Michigan - which, right about now, strikes me as a rather odd place to open up a restaurant that is totally new to the market.
