MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Mayor A C Wharton didn’t mince words Tuesday as he addressed an applauding crowd at the Memphis City Hall during the announcement of IKEA’s plans to open.

“I noticed they said if we open in 2016. Will y’all join me in saying it’s not a question of if, it’s when we open in 2016,” he said.

The mayor wants IKEA, a popular Swedish furniture retailer, to open as soon as possible in the Fall of 2016.

But before that happens, IKEA and the city need to make sure all the Is are dotted and Ts are crossed.

“That’s the can-do spirit,” Wharton said. “You’re now discovering what we’ve known for a long time – that this is a great place to live, work, play, and to do business.”

The 269,000 square foot location is planned to go in the Wolfchase Corridor, along the southwestern side of Interstate 40 near Germantown Parkway in Cordova. It would be the first IKEA store in Tennessee, and would feature a children’s play area and restaurant.

The closest stores now are in Atlanta, Georgia, and Frisco, Texas.

“If you look at a map of the U.S. and you look at a map of the Mid-South, you’ll notice there’s definitely an under-representation of IKEA stores,” Joesph Roth, an IKEA expansions manager, said.

Phil Trenary, president of the Chamber Commerce, said IKEA and the city started working on the project several months ago and will give people another reason to visit Memphis.

“It really sends a message to the rest of the world and the region that Memphis has it going on ,’cause if you think about it, this isn’t just a Memphis store. You’re going to see people from Jackson, Nashville, and Little Rock shop at the Memphis IKEA,” he said.

The big box retailer has planned for 1,000 parking spaces, so they’re expecting the crowds.

But Bart Garey, president of Hollywood Furniture and Hardware in North Memphis, isn’t worried about the added competition. His store has been around for 90 years, and he’s the third generation owner.

“My grandparents opened this business in 1924,” Garey said.

You can go to his shop to find a bed, couch, or lamp. Through the years, he’s seen the city of Memphis grow and competition get stiffer.

“Memphis is a big enough city now that just about all the major box stores are represented in some form or fashion,” Garey said.

The more big business pops up, the more prices usually go down. Garey called the past few years tough on local shops, and IKEA coming to Cordova will only make it tougher, but Garey isn’t worried. He said his shop provides what others don’t.

“Here we’ve built out business and we have a lot of pride in customer service,” he said.

“This is one of those, the rising tide lifts all boats,” Trenary said at the announcement Tuesday.

He added he believes IKEA will help the smaller mom and pop shops located throughout the city.

Garey agreed, saying more jobs means more money, which will ultimately help him, too.

“So that puts money back in the Memphis economy and anytime the Memphis economy, flourishes we flourish, so that’s what we’re about. I think it’s a good thing,” he said.