Ikea Tampa to break ground June 4

Grab your shovel. The Tampa Bay area's first Ikea store will break ground June 4 toward a summer 2009 opening. The Swedish home furnishings giant is building its third Florida store on 29 acres at Adamo Drive, 22nd Street and the Crosstown Expressway. It will employ 400. In addition to nearly 10,000 exclusive items, the future Ikea Tampa will feature three model home interiors, 50 room settings, a supervised children's play area and a 300-seat restaurant serving Swedish specialties such as meatballs with lingonberries. Mayor Pam Iorio is scheduled to attend the 10 a.m. groundbreaking ceremony that will include aerial maps, store renderings and a display of Ikea products.