Swedish furniture and housewares retailer Ikea said it's considering whether to satisfy its Ohio fans.

A spokesman said Ikea's expansion planners are looking at the Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati areas.

Right now, Ohioans who want to shop at Ikea must travel to Pittsburgh or to the Detroit area, where a new store opened earlier this month.

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Spokesman Joseph Roth says Ohio has been "perplexing" for the chain because the state's three largest metro areas are fairly close to each another. So deciding on the best location requires thought and strategy.

Roth said Ikea plans to open up to five new U.S. stores each year. He said the earliest an Ohio location could open is fall of 2007.