Inside Huntsville's new smaller-format Ikea
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Ikea Huntsville may have a smaller format, but it still scratches the same itch. Photo: Derek Lacey/Axios
After months of anticipation, Ikea opens Wednesday on University Drive.
Why it matters: Ranking high among Huntsville's most-wanted retailers, Ikea is bringing its new smaller-format store to the Rocket City, targeting the rapidly growing area for its first store in Alabama.
Catch up quick: The Swedish furniture giant opened its doors to local media Monday morning for a peek inside ahead of its Wednesday grand opening event.
- Store manager Brad Ellis, moving back to Huntsville from Memphis, where Ikea plans to close its store in May, told Axios the move is "a bit of a homecoming for me." He lived in Huntsville for about 15 years before leaving roughly a decade ago.
Zoom in: The 46,000-square-foot store is about one-sixth the footprint of the traditional Ikea store that can be found in Atlanta or Charlotte.
- The Huntsville store has about 5,000 items on display, about 2,000 of which are available for immediate takeaway, Ellis said, but that's about where the differences end.
- Ellis noted the store will offer its planning studio service, the same as a full-size Ikea store, as well as dedicated planners for kitchens, closet organization or living room organization systems.
- And the restaurant situation is similar, too, with the famous Swedish meatballs and other eats on offer, either to eat in-store or grab frozen to take home.
What they're saying: "It's all about putting stores closer to where people are," Ellis said at the store Monday. "Fundamentally, you still get the same Ikea shopping experience."
- "The biggest difference is that we don't stock a lot of the full-size furniture articles in the store," he said, though they're available for delivery or store pickup.
- The "shrunken-down version" still includes five fully furnished rooms, and best-sellers are front and center, with displays focusing on showcasing different options, Ellis said.
How it works: The store will be open 11am–7pm every day.
- For the grand opening Wednesday, though, doors open at 10am, but the festivities start earlier than that. The celebration, including giveaways, will begin at 8am and folks can start lining up at 7am.
- Ellis' pro tips: Get there early and be ready for a crowd.
💭 Derek's thought bubble: It's been a while since I've been in an Ikea, but this one hits all the same feels: arrows on the floor, the potential to get lost (I had to backtrack once to get to the cafe) and Ikea's signature vibe.
- You may not be able to wander around all day, as you can at the larger stores, but you could still spend plenty of time there, and the way they pack everything in, there's plenty to keep you busy.
The bottom line: "Huntsville is a growing market," Ellis told Axios. "It's the kind of place Ikea wants to be."