IKEA to close its Memphis-area store May 3, leaving 114 workers affected under WARN filing

Store set to shut down in Cordova; jobs and customer access shift to online and pickup options

IKEA has announced it will close its Memphis-area store in Cordova effective May 3, 2026, a move that state labor records indicate will affect 114 workers. The closure involves the retailer’s only full-size store in Tennessee and marks a significant change for customers across the Mid-South who have relied on the location since it opened in 2016.

A notice submitted to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development lists 114 employees impacted, triggering processes under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) framework that requires advance notice for certain plant closings and large layoffs. The filing formalizes the scale of workforce disruption connected to the shutdown.

In its closure announcement, IKEA said it intends to maintain access to its product range for the region through online ordering, delivery options, and pickup points in the Cordova area. The company also said employees would be offered opportunities at other locations, alongside separation-related support for those not placed elsewhere.

The May 3 closure date sets a defined window for affected workers to plan for transitions and for public agencies to coordinate reemployment assistance.

Local economic footprint and incentives

The Cordova store opened in December 2016 and was developed with the support of local incentives, including a $9.5 million tax break through Memphis EDGE’s PILOT program. The store’s departure is expected to be closely watched by workforce officials and economic-development stakeholders because it combines an identified headcount reduction with the loss of a high-profile retail anchor.

While the WARN filing provides a specific number of affected workers, it does not by itself answer how many employees will ultimately separate from IKEA versus transfer within the company. Workforce outcomes will depend on the availability of roles elsewhere and individual employee decisions.

What customers should expect

• The store will close to the public on May 3, 2026.

• IKEA plans to continue serving the Memphis market through e-commerce, delivery, and pickup options in the Cordova area.

• The store’s closure removes Tennessee’s only traditional IKEA store, likely shifting in-person shopping to out-of-state locations for customers who prefer a showroom experience.

The closure adds to a broader pattern of workforce adjustments tracked through WARN notices in Tennessee, which are used by state and local rapid-response teams to organize job-placement resources, training options, and other transition services for impacted employees.