JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The highly anticipated opening of IKEA's Jacksonville store will come with some major perks for the first customers through the doors.
Grand opening events Wednesday through Sunday include giveaways ranging from a three-seat sofa to the first 46 adults in the store to gift cards worth as much as $250.
Family friendly events begin Wednesday, but customers can start lining up at 9 a.m. Monday, 48 hours before the store's grand opening, IKEA officials said.
PHOTOS: IKEA prepares for Jacksonville grand opening
“We are excited to be opening our 46th store in the U.S. and our fifth in the state of Florida,” said Leontyne Green Sykes, store manager. “We have received such a warm welcome from the Jacksonville community, and we want to return the favor by welcoming our shoppers with food, fun and iconic IKEA products.”
Mother of three Chelsea Whittaker said she is looking forward to having the store close to home, especially ahead of the holidays.
“It was too far to go to Orlando with having them, but we are excited to be able to go and get some of the stuff for them for Christmas and everything,” Whittaker said.
Entertainment for customers waiting in line will be begin at 6 a.m. on opening day with the ceremony starting at 8:15 a.m.
“We want customers to thoroughly enjoy the grand opening experience. In preparation, we have worked with the city of Jacksonville to secure additional overflow parking, and we will have shuttles available for those directed to our temporary parking spaces,” said Green Sykes.
IKEA is equipped with 950 parking spaces with 1,000 more off-site, ready for the grand opening influx.
The crowds -- and the traffic they bring -- are what some shoppers want to avoid.
“I'm staying away because they said you can lineup days before, so I'm just going to let the crowds go through and wait my time and then go and do my own shopping,” Robine Grause said.
The store's groundbreaking took place this this time last year.
“We actually moved here in March, and so I was looking it up and it said that it was going to be an IKEA and I was like, 'Thank goodness. It's close enough that I can actually go,'” Whittaker said.
Giveaways throughout the grand opening weekend include:
Wednesday
- Rest Assured*- The first 46 adults (18 & older) in IKEA Jacksonville will receive a free EKTORP three-seat sofa, honoring our 46th U.S. store.
- Take a Seat (And We Mean Take It!)* –The next 100 adults (18 & older) will receive a free POÄNG armchair.
- For the (Truly) Young at Heart – The first 100 children (17 & younger) in IKEA Jacksonville will receive a free FAMNIG heart-shaped soft toy.
- Pick a Card, Any Card – The first 2,500 adults (18 & older) in IKEA Jacksonville will receive a random prize envelope with IKEA Gift Cards ranging from $10 to $250, or a “Buy One, Get One Free” cinnamon bun, hotdog or soft-serve frozen yogurt voucher.
- Happy Birthday to You and Us – The first 100 adults (18 & older) bringing proof to IKEA Jacksonville that their birthday is the same as the store’s will receive a gift card for $46, a tie-in corresponding to IKEA Jacksonville as the 46th U.S. IKEA store. Offer valid only on Nov. 8.
Thursday
- Sleep Like Royalty* – The first 46 adults (18 & older) in IKEA Jacksonville will receive a free queen-sized HAUGESUND mattress.
- Cozy Comfort* – The next 100 adults (18 & older) in IKEA Jacksonville will receive a free ALINA “sleep set” that includes bedspread and cushion covers.
- Kids’ Best Friend – The first 100 children (17 & younger) in IKEA Jacksonville will receive a free GOSIG golden dog soft toy.
Friday
- Cook Like a Pro* – The first 46 adults (18 & older) in IKEA Jacksonville will receive a free 4- piece SENSUELL cookware set.
- Meatballs for a Year* – The next 100 adults (18 & older) in IKEA Jacksonville will receive a voucher for 12 monthly meatball meals for two at IKEA Jacksonville’s Restaurant through next year, expiring on November 30, 2018.
- A Cold Sweet-ish Treat – The first 100 children (17 & under) in IKEA Jacksonville will receive a voucher for a soft-serve frozen yogurt available that day at IKEA Jacksonville’s Exit Bistro.
Saturday
- A Meal on Us- As a thank you for your service, veterans can enjoy a complimentary entree in the IKEA Restaurant by showing a form of military ID (active/reserve/retired).
Wednesday - Sunday
- Play Big If You’re Little – Balloon artists, entertainment and face-painting will enhance the family-friendly fun at IKEA Jacksonville from Nov. 8 through Nov. 12.
- Enter Our Home, Enter to Win – From Nov. 8 through Nov. 12, visitors to IKEA Jacksonville may enter for a chance to win one of 20 $250 IKEA Gift Cards through the IKEA FAMILY loyalty program.
*One per household
In addition, IKEA U.S. officials announced that as part of the grand opening celebration, IKEA is offering a one-day deal on two iconic products - the BILLY bookcase and IKEA Meatballs - for customers in IKEA locations across the country.
On Nov. 8, select BILLY bookcases will be sold in-store and online for $49* and customers will be able to purchase three bags of IKEA meatballs for $19.99.
*Customers should visit IKEA-USA.com for more details.