A new IKEA near Lakewood Ranch won't open this summer as planned and will instead open in the fall. At 48,000 square feet, the UTC store will be far smaller than a typical IKEA. The two-story Tampa location, the closest for Manatee County residents, exceeds 350,000 square feet.

The home furnishings retailer told the Bradenton Herald it is now targeting a fall 2026 opening for its store at 147 N. Cattleman Road in University Town Center's West District, near Golf Galaxy, DSW and REI. No specific date has been announced.

IKEA originally said the location would open by late summer when it announced the store in April. The company did not explain the delay.

The Sarasota store will stock more than 5,000 products on display. More than 3,000 of those, spanning accessories, lighting, textiles and more than 100 small furniture pieces, will be available for immediate takeaway. Larger items like sofas and beds can be ordered in-store or online with free pickup or fee-based delivery.

IKEA said the store will feature fully furnished room settings built around "local living" concepts for the Sarasota community. Shoppers can also book one-on-one design consultations for kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms and small spaces at a central planning area, according to the company's April announcement.

A Swedish Deli will serve meatballs, plant balls, falafel balls, veggie dogs and cinnamon buns for dine-in or takeout. An As-Is section will sell gently used and discontinued items at reduced prices.

"Sarasota is a growing area with a strong sense of community, and we're pleased to be opening a store in such a welcoming place," Laetitia Gouverneur, market manager for IKEA Tampa, said in the April announcement.

The Sarasota store will be IKEA's sixth in Florida. The company operates 61 U.S. retail locations and 415 stores across 32 countries.

IKEA has not announced a ribbon-cutting date or public preview. Shoppers can check IKEA.com for updates on the opening timeline.