Tribune photo by CHRIS URSO

Construction worker Eduardo Funas walks past a backhoe with an Ikea banner during the ground breaking for the new store in Tampa.

TAMPA The long-awaited opening of the IKEA store moved forward today with a groundbreaking in which city officials and IKEA executives glad-handed and back-slapped one another, all the while marveling at what a wonderful fit Tampa is for the Swedish furniture store.

The ceremony, attended by some Tampa City Council members and Mayor Pam Iorio, took place on a leveled 29-acre dirt plateau at the southeast corner of Adamo Drive and 22nd Street. The shoveling came after a few remarks in an air-conditioned tent.

"We are thrilled to be breaking ground in Tampa," said IKEA spokesman Joseph Roth. "It's about time we made it to Tampa Bay." There was applause.

He said the store will employ 400 workers drawn from the community. Applause again.

"This is a great day," said City Councilman Thomas Scott, in whose district the store is being built. "This is a great time for the city of Tampa."

Iorio gushed over the prospect of having Tampa join the 34 other cities in the nation with IKEA stores.

"They found out what we already knew, that Tampa is a great place," she said. "They are bullish on Tampa, and we all are bullish on Tampa."

She said the customers drawn to the store will boost the economy of nearby Ybor City's shops, clubs and eateries.

"At the end of the day, not everyone will want Swedish meatballs," she joked. Ybor City restaurants will realize a boost in business because of the IKEA store.

The store will be open by summer 2009. The demolition of the warehouse on the property and all the site preparation work has been on schedule, company officials said.

The Tampa store will feature 10,000 items, a 300-seat restaurant and 50 room settings so customers can visualize the assemble-at-home furniture.

The plans call for a 353,000-square-foot store to house inventory. The Swedish home furnishing business has two stores in Florida, one in Sunrise in South Florida and the other in Orlando. The company said it sold home décor to 458 million people in 2006.

The Tampa plans call for 1,700 parking spaces. Ikea officials said 600 trees will be planted around the building, which will have a reflective roof to lower energy consumption.

The store's arrival in Tampa hasn't been without controversy.

In January, Tampa City Council member Linda Saul-Sena wrote a strongly worded letter to the company, seeking changes in the store's design. She had opposed the project, saying it is not environmentally friendly.

She later issued a written apology but was not at the groundbreaking today.

Iorio said she is looking forward to the grand opening.

"I will wear yellow and blue," she said, referring to the IKEA and Swedish flag colors, "and I'll eat your meatballs and enjoy every bite."

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.