In arguably the most anticipated retail opening in the city’s history, IKEA finally christened a nearly 400,000-square-foot store in south Winnipeg in late November.
If there was any doubt about the pent-up demand for the Swedish furniture maker, it was quickly put to rest when nearly 1,000 people showed up at midnight the night before the opening to camp out in -20C temperatures in hopes of winning a $5,000 gift card.
When the first customers were officially let in the door in the morning and climbed the staircase to the showroom floor, they were welcomed by hundreds of workers banging “thunder sticks.”
Attending the ribbon cutting for the new store, which employs 400 people, were Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz, Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger and other dignitaries, including city councilor and former Winnipeg Jet Thomas Steen, perhaps the most visible member of the city’s Swedish community.
It’s hoped $22-million in recent improvements to area roadways will ease congestion on Kenaston Boulevard, already one of the busiest thoroughfares in Winnipeg.
