Ikea Huntsville grand opening set for Feb. 25

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

• Customers can start lining up at 7am, and festivities will kick off at 8am with toys for the first 100 kids and giveaways including Ikea products and gift cards.
• Regular store hours will be 11am-7pm every day of the week.

What they're saying: "As we expand our presence in the U.S., we're excited to introduce the Ikea experience to North Alabama," said Rob Olson, interim CEO of Ikea U.S., in the announcement.

• "Ikea Huntsville reflects our dedication to serving customers where they are and providing innovative, affordable solutions that make every day life better."

Zoom in: The 46,000-square-foot store will showcase more than 5,000 products, with more than 2,000 available for immediate takeaway.

• An As-Is Department will offer sustainable options, and though it will be smaller than traditional Ikea stores, it will still offer the famous Swedish meatballs and other fare.

Context: The new store comes as the company invests in growth as part of a $2.2 billion investment to become more affordable, accessible and sustainable, Ikea says.