IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, today announced that when its Denver-area store opens in Centennial, CO on July 27, it will recognize loyal, enthusiastic customers by giving away thousands of dollars in gift cards and merchandise – including an iconic EKTORP sofa for each of the first 38 adults in line, and a POANG armchair for the next 100 visitors. (Customers may begin lining up on 9 a.m. MDT on Monday, July 25 – 48 hours in advance of the doors opening at 9 a.m. MDT on Wednesday, July 27.) Also, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, Centennial Mayor Cathy Noon and IKEA U.S. president Mike Ward will join IKEA Centennial store manager Kelly Frieze in the official opening of the new store. IKEA Centennial is the Swedish company’s first store and restaurant destination in Colorado , 38th in the U.S. , and 324th worldwide. The 415,000-square-foot IKEA Centennial is located on 13.5 acres along the western side of Interstate 25, north of the Park Meadows area, accessible via the County Line Road exit. The store employs more than 400 coworkers and features 10,000 exclusively-designed items, a 550-seat IKEA Restaurant, 47 inspirational room settings, three model home interiors, a supervised children’s play area and approximately 1,500 parking spaces. IKEA included the largest commercial rooftop solar installation in Colorado and the first U.S. geothermal system for the company – the largest commercial one in the state – as part of IKEA Centennial’s construction. The closest IKEA stores to Colorado are in Draper, UT and Tempe , AZ.
The July 27 ceremony also will include State Representative David Balmer raising the U.S. flag, Honorary Swedish Consul for Colorado Donald Peterson raising the Swedish flag and State Representative Spencer Swalm raising the state flag of Colorado . Local resident Claire Wagner will serve as sign language interpreter of the opening ceremony. Entertainment for customers waiting in line will begin at 6 a.m. EDT. “Just as our store brings the unique IKEA family-friendly shopping experience to Colorado and beyond, we strive to ensure that waiting in line to visit IKEA Centennial will be an exciting and memorable event,” said Kelly Frieze, IKEA Centennial store manager. “It is just another way in which IKEA can help improve lives.” Store visitors will have many opportunities to benefit from IKEA Centennial’s grand opening.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
· Rest Assured – The first 38 adults (18 and older) in line at the IKEA Centennial grand opening on July 27, 2011 will receive a free EKTORP three-seat sofa.
· Take a Seat (And We Mean Take It!) – The next 100 adults (18 and older) in line at the IKEA Centennial grand opening on July 27, 2011 will receive a free POÄNG armchair.
· For the (Truly) Young at Heart – The first 100 children (younger than 18) in line at IKEA Centennial’s grand opening on July 27, 2011 will receive a free FAMNIG heart-shaped soft toy.
· Pick a Card, Any Card – The first 2,500 adults (18 and older) to visit IKEA Centennial on July 27, 2011 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 frozen yogurt voucher.
· Mile High Birthday – Visitors who bring proof to IKEA Centennial on July 27, 2011 that their birthday is that day – the same as the store’s – will receive a gift card in the amount of $52.80, the elevation of the Denver-area.
· Enter our Home, Enter to Win – From July 27 through July 31, 2011, visitors to IKEA Centennial may enter a drawing to win one of ten $1,000 IKEA Gift Cards. IKEA will match the prizes (a total of $10,000 per organization) with a donation to Family Tree House of Hope, an agency helping families and youths of Metro Denver overcome child abuse, domestic violence and homelessness, and Mi Casa Resource Center, an organization providing a variety of services focused on helping low-income families achieve economic success.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
· Sleep Like Royalty – The first 38 adults (18 and older) in IKEA Centennial on Thursday, July 28, 2011 will receive a free queen-sized SULTAN HALLEN mattress.
· Take it Easy – The next 100 adults (18 and older) in IKEA Centennial on Thursday, July 28, 2011 will receive free home delivery for their purchases on that day.
Friday, July 29, 2011
· Swedish Food Shopping Spree – The first 38 adults (18 or older) in IKEA Centennial will receive an IKEA Food canvas bag and coupon to fill the bag up with whatever they want from IKEA Centennial’s Swedish Foodmarket.
· Early Birds Eat Free – IKEA Centennial will offer a free breakfast for all customers prior to 11:00 AM on Friday, July 29, 2011.
· Children’s Choice – Kids under 12 can eat for free at IKEA Centennial, on Friday, July 29, 2011.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
· Elevation Celebration – In honor of Colorado Day on August 1, the first 135 (the number of years Colorado has been a state) adults (18 and older) in IKEA Centennial on Sunday, July 31, 2011 will receive a baby blue spruce (the state tree).
Wednesday, July 27 - Sunday, July 31, 2011
· Play Big If You’re Little – Balloon artists, entertainment and face-painting for kids will enhance the family-friendly fun at IKEA Centennial from July 27 through July 31, 2011.
· Take Light Rail and Lighten Your Load – Light-rail riders to the Dry Creek station (with proof) will be shuttled to/from IKEA and provided a 50% discount on local home deliveries from July 27 through July 31, 2011.
Additional offers at iKEA Centennial
IKEA Centennial is a fun day out for the family with:
· Småland, a supervised children’s play area (for children 37”-52” in height) that replicates the look of a typical Swedish farmhouse and forest;
· Additional play areas throughout the store, offering activities for kids shopping with parents;
· A “Children’s IKEA” area in the Showroom that also offers fun, interactive play; and
· Attention-to-detail amenities such as family-friendly parking, strollers and baby care rooms.
There is no need to shop on an empty stomach at IKEA Centennial because:
· The IKEA Restaurant will open 30 minutes earlier than the store for a full hot breakfast, including scrambled eggs, potatoes and bacon for only 99¢.
· The 550-seat restaurant also offers lunch, dinner, snacks and dessert, with a diverse menu, including traditional Swedish specialties such as the popular IKEA Swedish meatballs, shrimp sandwiches and salmon platters, as well as pasta, chicken and vegetarian dishes.
· Menu choices for kids include a child’s portion of Swedish meatballs or macaroni and cheese, while baby food, bottle warmers and bibs are available for even younger visitors.
· A Bistro near the store’s exit serves hot dogs, cinnamon buns, frozen yogurt and beverages.
· The Swedish Foodmarket offers Swedish delicacies, treats, and even frozen Swedish meatballs (the same ones served in the store’s Restaurant) to purchase and then prepare at home.
IKEA Centennial shopping conveniences include:
· Free decorating and design appointments with a furnishings consultant;
· IKEA catalogs, measuring tape, pencils, store maps, yellow shopping bags and 3 types of carts;
· Same-day shopping satisfaction with products in easy-to-transport flat-pack boxes that benefit the customer and the environment;
· Many conventional and self-checkouts ensure efficient customer purchasing; and
· Warehouse picking, home-delivery, assembly, and kitchen planning and installation services.
When IKEA Centennial opens, there will be 324 IKEA stores in 38 countries, including 38 in the U.S.
IKEA strives to be ‘The Life Improvement Store,’ and since its 1943 founding in Sweden, has offered home furnishings of good design and function, at low prices so the majority of people can afford them. IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings company, incorporates sustainable efforts into day-to-day business and supports initiatives that benefit children and the environment. For more information, go to IKEA-USA.com.
