Updated at 12:30 p.m.

This time next year, Ikea will be open in Grand Prairie.

The Swedish home furnishings superstore breaks ground on its Grand Prairie store this morning at 10:30 a.m. It's the biggest new retail project in the southwest Dallas suburb since Grand Prairie Premium Outlet opened in 2012.

The 290,000-square-foot Ikea store will employ 300 people when it opens in fall 2017. Ikea first announced its plans for a second store in the market last year. Its first store in North Texas opened in Frisco in 2005.

The store will be located on 30 acres on the east side of State Highway 161 and Mayfield Road. The property is north of Interstate 20. An additional 15 acres of contiguous land could be developed for more retail or commercial uses, under the plans approved by the City of Grand Prairie.

Mycon General Contractors is building the store and will employ 500 people jobs will be created by the construction phase. Ikea is evaluating potential for on-site, renewal power generation.

Here's what Ikea said will be inside this store: 3 model home interiors, 50 room settings, a supervised play area, 350-seat restaurant, baby care rooms, play areas throughout the store and preferred parking.

Last year, Ikea started testing smaller stores in some European cities. The idea is that online customers can pickup orders closer to where they live. Smaller test stores are in the UK, Spain and Norway.

Twitter: @MariaHalkias