Swedish furniture and home goods store IKEA opened its brand new Dallas location at The Shops at Park Lane on Wednesday, March 11.
The grand opening started just before 10 a.m, with customers arriving as early as 8 a.m. wanting to be the first to shop at the new store. Those who got there early were treated with gift cards and entered a raffle to win even more gift cards. They were also given free coffee and cinnamon rolls while they waited for the store to open.
Employees were there to welcome and greet the first customers of the new store when they walked in and could be seen all around celebrating with the flags of Sweden and Texas. At the opening, they cut a ribbon followed by cutting a log, a Swedish custom meant to bring good fortune to the store and those who enter, to officially open the IKEA.
The new two-story, 63,000-square-foot store offers more than 3,000 products with more than 2,000 of them on display. There is also an as-is department where customers can purchase gently used and discontinued items to support more sustainable furnishing options.
“We want your shopping experience with us to be so full and inspiring,” store manager Dean Barry said to the crowd at the grand opening.
The store is home to a Swedish Bistro where shoppers can buy frozen food or order freshly made items such as hot dogs and the world famous Swedish meatballs.
Ben Sandoval, the market manager for IKEA in Frisco and Dallas, said in his remarks at the grand opening that launching a store in Dallas was always a dream, “one that brings our vision of creating a better everyday life for the many people closer to our communties, and today, that dream becomes a reality.”
This store is the first of three new branches opening in Texas this year. Overall, this is the fifth IKEA in North Texas with another in Rockwall soon to come. The new Dallas location is significant as it is the first store in the region’s biggest city with Dallas residents no longer having to go to either of the next closest stores in Mesquite or Frisco.
“What this means is simple. We’re becoming more accessible for the many people in North Texas,” Sandoval said.
Sandoval also recognized the employees highlighting the hard work they put into getting the store ready to open.
“Stores like this don’t happen overnight,” he said. “This happens because of vision, determination and an incredible team of people working together to make it possible. Many of them have spent months preparing the store, solving problems, supporting each other and working long days making sure everything will be ready for this moment.”
Sandoval introduced Barry, who was more than excited to open the store and, like Sandoval, made sure to recognize all the employees.
“This is a super special day for us,” Barry said to the shoppers at the grand opening. “I’m proud and honored to represent the 54 co-workers that are hired to operate this store.”
Barry highlighted that the employees are neighbors in his speech.
“It’s great to be able to say that our co-workers truly reflect the community,” he said. “We put immense effort into hiring locally, and the talented team you see in front of you is a direct result of that. We hope you love this store as much as we do. We did pour our hearts into it as well.”
It is not just the IKEA employees who are excited about the new store. McKenna Nunn, a college student at the University of North Texas and Dallas native, came to the store with her college roommates to look for furniture for their new apartment. Nunn, in her short time shopping, already had her eye on a few dining tables and couches.
“I hope it helps other college students that might be in the area or any people that may need some cheap furniture, but good furniture as well,” she said.
