A rendering of a proposed IKEA store for Dublin, Calif., (Courtesy of IKEA) (Courtesy of IKEA)

DUBLIN -- Ikea has submitted plans for a new home furnishings store in Dublin that would open in about two years and employ hundreds of permanent workers, the retailing giant said Tuesday.

The store would open in mid-2018 and construction could begin as early as spring 2017, Ikea said. Dublin city officials must still approve the project.

"We continue to be thrilled with the reception afforded us in the Bay Area, so we are excited about submitting plans for Ikea Dublin to extend our reach further into the East Bay," said Lars Petersson, Ikea U.S. president.

At present, Ikea has Bay Area stores in Emeryville and East Palo Alto.

Ikea anticipates it will have 350 permanent employees at the Dublin store once it opens.

"That's a lot of jobs, and we are really excited that Ikea is seeking to open a store here in Dublin, because they are such a strong retailer," said Lori Taylor, city economic development director. "They are a real shopping destination."

In addition, about 500 temporary construction workers would be employed to build the store.

The 339,000-square-foot store would have 1,150 parking spaces and be constructed on a 21-acre site at the northwest corner of Interstate 580 and Hacienda Drive.

Separately, 6 acres next to the Ikea site are expected to be developed as retail, a restaurant and boutique hotel. The hotel would be roughly 75 rooms and the adjacent retail and restaurant facilities would total 19,600 square feet, according to city council agenda materials.

The retailer owns the entire 27.5-acre site, Dublin officials said.

"Right now, Ikea is doing a review of the property next to their store," Taylor said. "They're not sure what would be the exact mix of hotel, retail and restaurant space."

The Ikea in Dublin is expected to have nearly 10,000 exclusively designed items, 50 room settings, three model-home interiors and a children's play area. It also will feature a 450-seat restaurant serving Swedish specialties.

Other features include a children's Ikea area in the showroom, baby care rooms, play areas throughout the store and preferred parking, according to the retailer.

Ikea operates more than 380 stores in 47 countries, including 41 stores in the United States.

"This proposed store would complement the presence in Emeryville and East Palo Alto, providing Tri-Valley customers their own store," Petersson said.

The new retail operation also will likely bolster Dublin's municipal coffers, although an estimate wasn't available.

"Ikea would be a significant generator of sales taxes," Taylor said.

Contact George Avalos at 408-859-5167. Follow him at Twitter.com/georgeavalos.