Huntsville

Huntsville Members

Membership

A postcard image of the Huntsville skyline

Huntsville Alerts

Alert

blue

Axios Huntsville Partners

Axios Huntsville Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Get smarter, faster on what matters in Huntsville with Derek Lacey.

Axios Huntsville

Standard

Ikea Huntsville grand opening set for Feb. 25

Ikea US announced it will open the store, its first in Alabama, on Feb. 25 with a grand-opening celebration.

Business

It&#x27;s official: Huntsville&#x27;s Ikea store will be open within a week. Why it matters: Ikea has long been among the city&#x27;s most-desired retailers, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="announcing last summer" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2025/08/12/ikea-huntsville-alabama-store-midcity-opening" data-vars-content-id="1ba8a082-7758-4d5e-92c8-3538a16c77ff" data-vars-headline="Ikea Huntsville grand opening set for Feb. 25" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2025/08/12/ikea-huntsville-alabama-store-midcity-opening" target="_self">announcing last summer</a> its plan to bring a new, smaller-format store to University Drive near GigaParts.

Inside Huntsville's new smaller-format Ikea

The grand opening of Ikea's first Alabama location is on Wednesday, Feb. 25.

Development

After <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="months of" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2025/08/12/ikea-huntsville-alabama-store-midcity-opening" data-vars-content-id="3580d4e1-04ed-4988-814f-056567a76daf" data-vars-headline="Inside Huntsville&#x27;s new smaller-format Ikea" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2025/08/12/ikea-huntsville-alabama-store-midcity-opening" target="_self">months of</a> anticipation, Ikea opens Wednesday on University Drive. Why it matters: Ranking high among Huntsville&#x27;s most-wanted retailers, Ikea is bringing its new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="smaller-format store" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ikea.com/us/en/newsroom/corporate-news/ikea-u-s-to-celebrate-grand-opening-of-first-location-in-alabama-on-february-25-pubf3895110/" data-vars-content-id="3580d4e1-04ed-4988-814f-056567a76daf" data-vars-headline="Inside Huntsville&#x27;s new smaller-format Ikea" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ikea.com/us/en/newsroom/corporate-news/ikea-u-s-to-celebrate-grand-opening-of-first-location-in-alabama-on-february-25-pubf3895110/" target="_blank">smaller-format store</a> to the Rocket City, targeting the rapidly growing area for its first store in Alabama.

"A living museum:" Joy McKee Arboretum takes root

Huntsville plans to open the arboretum in May, weather permitting.

News

Construction is underway at John Hunt Park on the Joy McKee Arboretum, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="newly named to honor" data-vars-click-url="https://www.huntsvilleal.gov/huntsville-approves-naming-of-arboretum-for-longtime-landscape-director-joy-mckee/" data-vars-content-id="c488d2bc-bbf6-4051-bc2c-0a0715a7063c" data-vars-headline="&quot;A living museum:&quot; Joy McKee Arboretum takes root" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.huntsvilleal.gov/huntsville-approves-naming-of-arboretum-for-longtime-landscape-director-joy-mckee/" target="_blank">newly named to honor</a> a longtime steward of Huntsville&#x27;s green spaces.Why it matters: City landscapers saw an opportunity to preserve history, support native trees and urban canopy, give visitors a nature break and educate the public in an unused corner of the park.

Senate bill targets police staffing in Huntsville, Montgomery

Senate Bill 298 would require police departments in Alabama's Class 3 municipalities to have two sworn officers for every 1,000 residents by Oct. 1.

A bill introduced in the state Legislature aims to set minimum staffing levels for Huntsville and Montgomery police departments.Why it matters: If passed, the bill could lead to a state takeover of local law enforcement, though Huntsville leaders say the city already meets the bill&#x27;s requirements.

2026: The year Huntsville's music scene gets personal

Venues like Common House are giving local musicians and fans the house show experience, as artists lean into intimate shows.

Music

As AI-generated artists <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="rack up streams" data-vars-click-url="https://www.vice.com/en/article/at-least-one-ai-generated-artist-has-appeared-on-the-billboard-charts-in-the-past-four-weeks/" data-vars-content-id="f62f3415-f422-4c32-a37f-c894cf0c1181" data-vars-headline="2026: The year Huntsville&#x27;s music scene gets personal" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/at-least-one-ai-generated-artist-has-appeared-on-the-billboard-charts-in-the-past-four-weeks/" target="_blank">rack up streams</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="top charts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2025/11/13/ai-artists-dominate-country-music-chart-nashville-songwriters" data-vars-content-id="f62f3415-f422-4c32-a37f-c894cf0c1181" data-vars-headline="2026: The year Huntsville&#x27;s music scene gets personal" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2025/11/13/ai-artists-dominate-country-music-chart-nashville-songwriters" target="_self">top charts</a>, musicians are leaning into intimate in-person shows while investors focus on smaller venues. Why it matters: Huntsville&#x27;s efforts to build up its music scene and industry <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="paid dividends" data-vars-click-url="https://www.huntsvilleal.gov/huntsville-named-to-fast-companys-annual-list-of-the-worlds-most-innovative-companies-of-2025/" data-vars-content-id="f62f3415-f422-4c32-a37f-c894cf0c1181" data-vars-headline="2026: The year Huntsville&#x27;s music scene gets personal" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.huntsvilleal.gov/huntsville-named-to-fast-companys-annual-list-of-the-worlds-most-innovative-companies-of-2025/" target="_blank">paid dividends</a> in 2025. And in 2026, the city is looking to create more opportunities for fans and musicians alike.