Monday 16th November 2015. Place this date in your calendars now if you are as excited about IKEA’s doors opening in Canberra as we are.
For years, Canberrans have been lobbying the leading home furnishing retailer to bring a store to our state. Finally, in May 2014 the announcement came and construction of the 26,000 square metre store begun earlier this year.
This will be the seventh IKEA store on the East Coast and the ninth in Australia. It is a milestone in the Swedish retailer’s long-term national expansion plan for Australia.
The Canberra store will be one of the most sustainable stores in the country. It has a solar panel energy system, which is estimated to generate approximately a quarter of the energy consumed by the store. They will also use approximately 2,500 LED lights, which are energy efficient, consuming around 85 percent less energy than other lighting.
The store will offer Canberrans and the expected 1 million annual visitors over 8000 products from the IKEA range, from furniture to everyday home wares; all professionally displayed in their showroom and available for purchase from their markethall. And while the thought of putting together furniture with Allen keys can be a little daunting, it is not the only thing that IKEA is known for.
Store Manager Mark Mitchinson reveals the date the store will open
If you ask my nephew and niece about whether they’d like to visit IKEA, you will get a resounding ‘Yes!’. For them, IKEA means an hour of playtime at Småland (while the adults get to look through the store), hot dogs for lunch, and ice cream cones for dessert.
IKEA Cinnamon Rolls will be on offer in their restaurant
Recently IKEA Canberra hosted selected IKEA FAMILY members at a crayfish and schnapps party, providing a unique sneak peek into a selection of the range of meals that will be on offer at their 280 seat restaurant, including their famous meatballs and their lingonberry jam. IKEA’s food market will have easy to prepare meals, sauces, jams and condiments, as well as pastries and cookies to take home.
What you need to know
- IKEA FAMILY members will be able to access a range of sustainable products at discounted prices. Membership is free
- There will be over 740 car parking spaces
- IKEA Canberra is located opposite Majura Park on Mt Majura Road
