Ikea set to unveil Red Hook store

[Trainspotter 0]

Ikea set to unveil Red Hook store

BY NICOLE CARTER

DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

June 12th 2008

 

Rosier/News

The new Ikea store in Brooklyn, with a side view below

 

The nation's newest Ikea store opens June 18 in Brooklyn, and fans of the Swedish furniture giant will not be disappointed.

 

The Red Hook store, which offered a sneak peek Wednesday, boasts 346,000 square feet of assembly-required furniture and accessories in addition to a 6.5-acre waterfront esplanade spanning the Erie Basin.

 

The public outdoor space has more than 9,000 plants and enough bench room for at least 250 gawkers to stare at the Statue of Liberty. It was built mostly from reused and recycled material.

 

"Even the great cobblestones that lined Beard St. have been reused to create a path between some benches," said store manager Michael Baker.

 

Inside, true Ikea-philes will notice that the outlet is one of the chain's only locations to feature real windows in the showrooms.

 

After three years of preparation, planners also went the extra mile to make sure the store's floor plan reflects the community it serves.

 

"Like all Ikea stores, we also have mock houses set up, but these are all inspired by actual Brooklyn and city apartment layouts," Baker said.

 

For city dwellers, getting there is a cinch, especially when compared with shlepping to the Elizabeth, N.J., or Hicksville, L.I., locations. Brooklyn's B61 and B77 buses have extended their runs to reach the store, a free shuttle runs between the and subway stations and Ikea, and a water taxi zips back and forth from Pier 11 in downtown Manhattan.

 

Getting the goods home is easier than ever, as well, store officials said. Customers can have their Ribbas and Billigs dropped off via same-day or next-day courier service, as well as the more traditional home delivery service most stores offer.

 

Ikea also has partnered with U-Haul so that trucks are available for lease on site. A deal with Zip Car will allow buyers to drive off in a rental.

 

As for the superfans, the store's prepared for them, too. People who just can't wait to get in the store are allowed to start pitching tents and lining up on June 16.

[Pablo M 201 35]

Looks promising. I'll probably pay a visit to the store one of these days over the summer.

[Broad St. Belle 0]

So I just came from Ikea and they really weren't kidding when they said it's as big as 4 football stadiums. I didn't realize that it was really "in the back" of Redhook. It felt weird being on the B77 all the way to Beard st. So worth it though; the sales were awesome :cool: and the outside seating is nice too...