Behind the scenes of the upcoming Jacksonville IKEA store

The new IKEA in Jacksonville is expected to bring hundreds of shoppers and employ more than 250 workers.

For the first time, Action News Jax was able to get a look inside the store before it even opens.

The current condition of the future IKEA store is one most shoppers haven't seen before - the giant blue building is lacking furniture and has dusty floors, but crews are hard at work in order for the store to open its doors this fall.

MORE: IKEA buys land on the Southside for $13 million | IKEA to break ground in Jacksonville | IKEA breaks ground in Jacksonville

"I would speculate it’s going to be after Labor Day," said IKEA public affairs manager Joseph Roth.

Future store manager Leontyne Green Sykes says she can’t wait for that day.

"Just continuing to see the progress, knowing that we are just so much closer to the store being built,"

IKEA told Action News Jax the next phase is putting up walls and so far, they are thrilled with the progress.

"We announced plans back in October of 2015, broke ground November of 2016 and here we are in June of 2017 and the building is almost entire enclosed," said Roth.

Related: 'The IKEA effect:' Will new Jacksonville location hurt small businesses?

Once the construction inside is complete, then it’s IKEA’s turn to take over.

"All the new coworkers join in helping transform this building into an actual IKEA store," said Roth.

Green Sykes says seeing the step-by-step progress continues to energize the crew.

"Everyone is super excited I think they also feel a great bit of pride in what they’re doing and seeing the progress move along," said Green Sykes.

IKEA told Action News Jax they have already begun recruiting their store leadership team and they plan to start hiring more coworkers closer to the end of June or the beginning of July.

Cox Media Group