IKEA is heading to Destiny USA, Syracuse
In a significant development, IKEA has announced plans to open its first store in Upstate New York at Destiny USA, the largest mall in New York. The new store will occupy the space previously home to At Home, covering an area of 88,500 square feet inside the mall.
The announcement was warmly received by local leaders, including Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh and Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, who view this as a sign of renewed investment and broader revitalization efforts in the area. The store, scheduled to open in Fall 2025, is expected to attract visitors from across the region, strengthening Destiny USA's position as a premier shopping, dining, and entertainment destination.
IKEA Syracuse will showcase fully furnished room settings and offer more than 3,000 products, including an area where customers can design and order items for other rooms in their homes. The store will also feature an assortment of food offerings.
Javier Quiñones, CEO & chief sustainability officer of IKEA U.S., stated, "The opening of IKEA Syracuse highlights our commitment to bring IKEA closer to the many people and make it easier and more affordable to access our home furnishing products and solutions."
The financial struggles of Destiny USA and its development company, Pyramid, have been ongoing, coinciding with the rise of online retailing. However, the current status of Destiny USA appears positive, with Pyramid Management Group actively investing in revitalization efforts.
Despite a default on a $300 million mortgage on Destiny USA in Syracuse, there are no recent indications or news reports suggesting any imminent foreclosure risks. The focus, instead, is on growth and new tenant attraction, with the mall still hosting around 300 tenants, mostly smaller in-line stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
In recent months, Destiny USA has welcomed new additions such as an indoor 40,000-square-foot pickleball facility and a 14,000-square-foot virtual reality concept venue. Zero Latency, a popular virtual reality entertainment venue, has also opened at the mall since then.
The IKEA store in Syracuse will follow in the footsteps of a similar-sized IKEA store that opened in downtown Toronto three years ago. With the addition of IKEA, Destiny USA is set to offer a more diverse and attractive shopping experience to its visitors.
Living a more stylish and comfortable lifestyle will become easier for residents in Upstate New York, as the anticipated opening of IKEA Syracuse will provide a wide range of home-and-garden products for shopping. The store, scheduled to open in Fall 2025, is anticipated to attract customers from all around the region, making Destiny USA a more appealing hub for shopping, dining, and entertainment.
