May 31, 2017   SOURCE: BusinessWire

IKEA to Offer Swedish Food, Fun, Furnishings and Sustainability When Its Second Ohio Store Opens Wednesday, June 7 in Columbus

IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, today announced that when its Columbus, Ohio store opens on June 7, it will recognize loyal, enthusiastic customers by giving away thousands of dollars in gift cards and merchandise – including an iconic EKTORP sofa for each of the first 44 adults in line, and a POANG armchair for the next 100. Other highlights include a free mattress for the first 44 adults on Thursday, June 8 and Swedish Food shopping spree for the first 44 on Friday, June 9. Customers may begin lining up at 9 a.m. EDT on Monday, June 5 – 48 hours before the store’s opening at 9 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 7. Ohio Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor, Columbus City Council President Pro Tem Priscilla Tyson, Deputy Chief of Mission for the Swedish Embassy Göran Lithell, IKEA U.S. president Lars Petersson and store manager David Garcia will officially open the store.

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IKEA to offer Swedish food, fun, furnishings and sustainability when its second Ohio store opens Wed ...

IKEA to offer Swedish food, fun, furnishings and sustainability when its second Ohio store opens Wednesday, June 7 in Columbus. (Photo: Business Wire)

IKEA Columbus is the Swedish company’s second store and restaurant destination in Ohio, 44th in the United States, and 397th worldwide. (The state’s first IKEA store opened in Cincinnati-area West Chester in 2008.) The 354,000 square-foot future IKEA Columbus store, with 1,100 parking spaces, was built on 33 acres at the northeastern corner of Interstate-71 and Gemini Place in the Polaris Centers of Commerce. The store reflects the unique architectural design for which IKEA is known worldwide, and includes one of Ohio’s largest rooftop solar arrays – consistent with the solar presence at 90% of U.S. IKEA locations – as well as three electric vehicle charging stations.

The June 7 ceremony also will include Delaware County Commission President Jeff Benton raising the U.S. flag, Honorary Swedish Consul General for Malou Monago raising the Swedish flag and Westerville Mayor Kathy Cocuzzi raising the state flag of Ohio. Individual store coworkers will sing the respective American and Swedish national anthems, and “America the Beautiful” prior to the opening remarks. Entertainment for customers waiting in line will begin at 6 a.m. EDT on opening day. “Just as the IKEA store concept will introduce a new way of shopping for the home, we want customers waiting in line to visit our store to enjoy the unique experience too,” said David Garcia, IKEA Columbus store manager. Store visitors will have opportunities to enjoy benefits from the grand opening of IKEA Columbus, including:

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

  • Rest Assured – The first 44 adults (18 & older) in IKEA Columbus on June 7, 2017 will receive a free EKTORP three-seat sofa, honoring our 44th U.S. store.
  • Take a Seat (And We Mean Take It!) – The next 100 adults (18 & older) in IKEA Columbus on June 7, 2017 will receive a free POÄNG armchair.
  • For the (Truly) Young at Heart – The first 100 children (17 & younger) in IKEA Columbus on June 7, 2017 will receive a free FAMNIG heart-shaped soft toy.
  • Pick a Card, Any Card – The first 2,500 adults (18 & older) in IKEA Columbus on June 7, 2017 will receive a random prize envelope with IKEA Gift Cards ranging from $10 to $250, or a “Buy One, Get One Free” cinnamon bun, hotdog or soft-serve frozen yogurt voucher.
  • Happy Birthday to You and Us – The first 100 adults (18 & older) bringing proof to IKEA Columbus on June 7, 2017 their birthday is the same as the store’s will receive a gift card in the amount of $44, a tie-in corresponding to IKEA Columbus as the 44th U.S. IKEA store.
  • Enter our Home, Enter to Win – From June 7 through June 11, 2017, visitors to IKEA Columbus may enter a drawing to win one of ten $1,000 IKEA Gift Cards through the IKEA FAMILY loyalty program. IKEA is matching the prizes (a total of $10,000) with a donation of home furnishings to The Homeless Families Foundation, a local organization that provides housing assistance and educational services to homeless families living in Columbus.

Thursday, June 8, 2017

  • Sleep Like Royalty – The first 44 adults (18 & older) in IKEA Columbus on Thursday, June 8, 2017 will receive a free queen-sized HAUGESUND mattress.
  • Cozy Comfort – The next 100 adults (18 & older) in IKEA Columbus on Thursday, June 8, 2017 will receive a free ALINA “sleep set” of bedspread and cushion covers and two FJADRAR pillows.
  • Kid’s Best Friend – The first 100 children (17 & younger) in IKEA Columbus on June 8, 2017 will receive a free GOSIG golden dog soft toy.

Friday, June 9, 2017

  • Cook (& Store) Like a Pro – The first 44 adults in IKEA Columbus on Friday, June 9, 2017 will receive a free 365+ 6-piece cookware starter set and a FORTROLIG food container storage set.
  • It’s in the Bag! – The next 44 adults (18 & older) in IKEA Columbus on Friday, June 9, 2017 will receive freezer bags filled with five different Swedish meals, complete with beverages and desserts, from the store’s Swedish Food Market.
  • A Cold Sweet-ish Treat – The first 100 children (17 & under) in IKEA Columbus on Friday, June 9, 2017 will receive a voucher for a soft-serve frozen yogurt that day at the Exit Bistro.

Wednesday, June 7 - Sunday, June 11, 2017

  • Play Big If You’re Little – Balloon artists, entertainment and face-painting will enhance the family-friendly fun at IKEA Columbus from June 7 through June 11, 2017.

ADDITIONAL OFFERS AT IKEA COLUMBUS

IKEA Columbus is a fun day out for the family with:

  • Småland, a supervised children’s play area (for children 37”-54” in height) that replicates the look of a typical Swedish farmhouse and forest;
  • Additional play areas throughout the store, offering activities for kids shopping with parents;
  • A “Children’s IKEA” area in the Showroom that also offers fun, interactive play; and
  • Attention-to-detail amenities such as family-friendly parking, strollers and baby care rooms.

No shopping on an empty stomach at IKEA Columbus because:

  • The IKEA Restaurant opens 30 minutes earlier than the store for a full hot breakfast, including scrambled eggs, potatoes, turkey sausage and Swedish pancakes for only $2.00.
  • The 450-seat restaurant also offers a diverse menu featuring lunch, dinner, snacks and dessert, including Swedish specialties such as the popular IKEA Swedish meatballs (as well as chicken or veggie versions), seafood plates, pasta, chicken, salads, sandwiches, and vegetarian dishes too.
  • Menu choices for kids include a child’s portion of Swedish meatballs, chicken fingers or macaroni and cheese, while baby food and bibs are available for even younger visitors.
  • The Swedish Food Market offers Swedish delicacies, snacks and treats, and frozen Swedish meatballs (the same ones available in the Restaurant) to purchase and then prepare at home.
  • The Exit Bistro serves hot dogs, pizza, cinnamon buns, frozen yogurt, sundaes and beverages.

IKEA Columbus shopping conveniences include:

  • Free design appointments with a furnishings consultant;
  • IKEA catalogs, measuring tape, pencils, store maps, yellow shopping bags and 3 types of carts;
  • Same-day shopping satisfaction with products in easy-to-transport flat-pack boxes that benefit the customer and the environment;
  • 26 checkout lanes to ensure efficient customer purchasing;
  • Warehouse picking, home-delivery, assembly, and kitchen planning and installation services; and
  • 2017 IKEA Catalogs, focused on how food-related activities help bring people together through everyday life in and around the kitchen.

When IKEA Columbus opens, there will be 397 IKEA stores in 48 countries, including 44 in the U.S. Since its 1943 founding in Sweden, IKEA has offered home furnishings of good design and function at low prices so the majority of people can afford them. IKEA has been included in rankings of “Best Companies to Work For” and strives to be an employer of choice. IKEA incorporates sustainability into day-to-day business and supports initiatives that benefit children and the environment. For more information see IKEA-USA.com, @IKEAUSA, @IKEAUSANews, or IKEAUSA on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest.