In 2006 a large ILVA store opened on Great Ancoats Street as part of the redevelopment of the Piccadilly Canal Basin.  The Danish furniture store Ilva launched in the UK in May 2006 by opening a store at Lakeside in Thurrock, Essex, followed by two stores this one in Manchester and Gateshead.

In June of 2008 ILVA went into administration.  The Independent reported, "Ilva Furniture has gone into administration after just over two years of trading in the UK, falling victim to a flawed launch and torrid trading conditions that have affected all big-ticket retailers."  It appears that ILVA attempted to take on IKEA and lost.

By November of 2009 the building was empty but activity on the site suggested that there were plans to reopen and by the looks of it the next tenant was to be the German discount supermarket chain Aldi.