There are no specific sign plans or paperwork filed, but Ikea executives will be in town next week for an informal status update with Tampa city officials and expect to discuss the issue. Staff photo by RICHARD MULLINS

TAMPA - Just in case Tampa shoppers can't quite see the 353,000-square foot royal blue and sunshine yellow Ikea store in Ybor City, the Swedish retailer would like to raise its profile.

Specifically, Ikea executives want bigger signs. Or possibly more signs, and in more places around the region too.

"The Tampa store is actually under-signed compared to other Ikea stores in the United States," said spokesman Joe Roth. "Most have more signs, or signs along interstates and major highways."

Parking seems to be going fine, Ikea officials say, as are traffic patterns and social connections with the community. But Ikea officials like their stores to draw from an entire region, and they'd like the store to have more visibility.

There is a two-story, three-sided pole sign at Adamo Drive. And roughly 10-foot-tall IKEA signs on the building facing the Crosstown Expressway and Adamo. But shoppers driving south from Interstate 4 along 22nd avenue tend to drive right past the 29-acre complex, Roth said.

There are no specific sign plans or paperwork filed yet, Roth said. Rather, Ikea executives will be in town next week for an informal status update with Tampa city officials and expect to discuss the issue.

"That location is visibility challenged, and we don't really have enough signage to compensate for it," Roth said. One solution could be more signs and larger signs that help direct shoppers from other freeways like I-4.

Ikea opened at the Ybor location in May with high-profile public events, including a traditional Swedish log-sawing demonstration by Mayor Pam Iorio, who was among the first shoppers, buying Swedish chocolate for her office staff.

Reporter Christian Wade contributed to this story. Reporter Richard Mullins can be reached at (813) 259-7919.