The front entrance to the Ikea store in Campi Bisenzio. Ikea photo

Not long after The Business Journal broke news this week that Great Wolf Lodge had second thoughts about building in Visalia, talk of a certain Swedish furniture store began to circulate.

The rumor offered consolation. As reported by our contributing writer John Lindt, Great Wolf Lodge promised more than half a million visitors a year and $2 billion in economic impact for the dusty-but-growing intersection of Caldwell Avenue and Highway 99. Published reports that Ikea was still engaged in building a store near the Sequoia Gateway Commerce Center gave a reason for hope.

The Central Valley’s love affair with Ikea is literally the stuff of legend, with polls and social media chatter indicating it is the most desired retail store, up there with Cracker Barrel and Nordstrom.

Reporters covering business in the Central Valley will inevitably find themselves tracking down rumors about where Ikea wants to build a store. Downtown. Manchester Mall. Visalia. You never know where the next one will be.

The conclusion of such reporting on Ikea is generally the same — rumors. Lindt heard as much via a statement from Tulare County officials.

“While Tulare County would certainly welcome an IKEA store, there have been no discussions between the County and IKEA representatives,” according to the statement.

We heard as much from an Ikea public relations representative Thursday.

“At IKEA, we are always looking at new opportunities for expansion and growth. As we continue to transform our business, we are considering new ways to meet our customers’ needs across the U.S. However, IKEA has not announced any plans for a new location in the Visalia, CA area.”

The operative word there is “announced.” Big retailers are famously mum on confirming new locations until they are good and ready — oftentimes in the face of solid reporting.

But in this case, it looks like Ikea eludes us yet again.

Is it possible Ikea will build a store here some day? I’d say as long as they keep churning out affordable furniture and those Swedish meatballs, it’s inevitable. With a four-county population of nearly 2 million people, the Central Valley is an economic force to be reckoned with in the Golden State. Add in efforts to improve transportation, infrastructure, educational attainment and workforce readiness, Ikea will be begging to come here.

In that way — even though for now we have to drive 139 miles to actually shop at one — Ikea lives in all of us.