I've never even set foot in Ikea. We don't have one in Denver and the closest one is in Tucson AZ more than 600 miles away! You would think a city the size of Denver (population 2.7 million in the metro area) would have one! I wish I could relate to all the posts that talk about Ikea this and Ikea that....

I think they tried to open one but backed out of the deal when the covenants of the shopping district wouldn't approve the exterior of the store.

Is that a giant clog in photo #64?! I love it!

Hmmm. I wonder if they have, like, everything in stock.

I used to live 5 minutes (walking distance!) from IKEA in Red Hook. I can't even imagine how much time I would be spending there if I hadn't moved upstate!

Daim cake for dessert every night, etc.

I have never been to Ikea either. I lived in Boston forever. And since I moved to New York it has seemed like such a hassle to trek to Long Island or NJ for something I knew nothing about. Will be cool to finally check it out though.

i can't make this slideshow or the individual photos work.

dmstudio--Actually it's in Tempe, which is an 1 1/2 hrs from Tucson.. Hate making that drive!! LOL..

my bro's studio is two blocks from the new ikea. he's clearly not as excited as i am though, weee! heeheehee snort giggle pshaw hyukhyuk. i do love me some ikea!

i won't line up for opening day or anything, but i'll totally make the trip - and likely pretty often as ikea is hands down the best source for photo frames and i've often found myself lamenting the long distance to elizabeth's ikea. often. lamenting.

now that has all changed.

oh yes.
it has.

I'm with kdkaboom ... I've been kinda off IKEA for a few years at least furniture-wise, but now that it's close, I'll totally pop in for small things like frames and glasses, etc. I still plan on avoiding it like the plague for the first few months, though.

I'm in the same boat as you guys... I don't need furniture yet and I am SO excited to be able to pop over for little things like picture frames, dish towels and their awesome $.99 pot scrubbers!

So New York gets ANOTHER IKEA??? Please, IKEA, open a store in Colorado!!!!!!! We want to spend our money!!! *LOL*

but* not and ^

aand now that I've looked at the slideshow I am practically giddy with excitment! There is so much in stock, lets hope it stays that way :)

Anyone want to guess how long it will take for the insane-opening day/week/month crowds to die down? I know weekends are the worst time to go so I'm thinking after work one day will be my best bet.

Animalhouze, thanks for the correction. I do remember now that it was Tempe and not Tucson. I had someone pick up some light fixtures when they were traveling there but I've never been there myself.

I've checked Ikea out online but whenever I find something I like it is "in store only". I even called them and told them I'd arrange shipping myself and they refused as it is how they attract customers into the store. I guess to them my spending no money in the store is better than altering their policy. Of course in the end they got my money anyway when I found someone traveling that way. The purchases were actually for my office, of course if they had a local store here I could have spent more of my companies money!

oops, I meant "company's money".

SO EXCITED. In all, I bet the travel time from my place to Elizabeth via free shuttle from Port Authority (which I've never done) will equal travel time to the port and then the water taxi, but water taxis are SO MUCH MORE FUN!!!
I, too, can't wait to be able to drop in for little things like frames. For the summer I have Fridays off and in the fall I have Thursdays off, so those will be my wake up early and go to an empty Ikea days!
Also, I am looking forward to exploring Red Hook, though I hear Ikea's still in the middle of nowhere in Red Hook, is that true?

So will i ever be able to see a slideshow? I click, thinking, "Oh I hope it works this time" and it teases me by showing one picture or even just a flash & then nothing. Expectation & then frustration! :)

When is AT going to fix the photo galleries?

Finally, I can get a cheap carpet for my studio without having to schlep it back from NJ!

Have you noticed the free shuttle from the subway?

" A complimentary shuttle runs from both the 4th Ave/9th St and Court St/Borough Hall subway stations and departs every 15 minutes during store hours, from 10am to 10pm daily."

this is going to be useful for things other than Ikea.

I can't make the slideshow work either.

sciencegeek - I was thinking the same thing about the shuttle. It seems like it will now be eaiser to visit other places in redhook which before pretty much required a car (or walking a mile).

I wonder which is easier, taking the subway, walking to and taking the ferry, or taking the subway and then the shuttle?

OMG i cant wait to move into my new place and have another IKEA shopping excursion!! Thank goodness I live in LA again and dont have to lung my bags on the subway!

go brooklynites!

Love the photography! Even though there's something a little creepy about the "calm before the storm" of mass consumerism, I do love me some IKEA, and I will most certainly be there within the first few weeks of its opening...

Question - were those real cowhide rugs I saw there?

Omg, I'll be going there for the food shop all the time... Also, the fabric department looks great!

Look again...this is the last time you will see the check-outs empty!