The shopping center IKEA is developing in Loulé, Algarve will be called MAR Shopping Algarve (Sea Shopping Algarve). The new shopping center is scheduled to open in the summer 2017. The name was chosen because the IKEA Centres considers “SEA” to be a word closely connected with Portugal’s history and culture. Ana Machado, director of marketing for IKEA Centres, says no other name could have been chosen since Portugal has a coastline of 2,830 km. Located in Loulé, MAR Shopping Algarve will be part of an enlarged shopping complex with 82,000 sqm, which also includes the Designer Outlet Algarve (managed by ROS Retail Outlet Shopping), a fully integrated IKEA store as well as a recreation area. It will offer 220 stores and 3,500 parking spaces. In total, the IKEA Group is investing €200m in the project which will create 3,000 direct and indirect jobs.
