With its “iconic” blue and yellow colouring, customers will recognize it as “unmistakably Ikea.”
That’s how Danny Santana, Ikea London’s deputy market manager, described the Swedish company’s first “compact store” in Canada, which opened Tuesday morning at White Oaks Mall in London’s south end.
“The difference is that we’ve reimagined that experience into a more compact, convenient format designed specifically with London customers in mind,” Santana said. “(It) sort of represents a new addition to the ecosystem in our region, and a really good complement to the existing plan and order point on Wonderland Road South.”
At roughly 3,995 square metres (43,000 square feet), Canada’s first compact store is about one-fifth the size of the full-size Ikea store in Burlington, but it still carries about 2,500 products available for immediate purchase, Santana said. There’s also a self-serve area featuring about 400 furniture items available for immediate takeaway.
Despite being smaller than the more “substantial footprint” of the Burlington store – the closest full-size Ikea location to London – Santana said customers still have access to the home-furnishing giant’s entire product catalogue.
Shopping carts await customers at the new Ikea store at White Oaks Mall in London on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (Geoff Robins/The London Free Press)
Customers wait in line for the grand opening of the new Ikea store at White Oaks Mall in London on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (Geoff Robins/The London Free Press)
Selwyn Crittendon of Ikea Canada speaks during the grand opening of the new Ikea store at White Oaks Mall in London on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (Geoff Robins/The London Free Press)
Products await customers at the new Ikea store at White Oaks Mall in London amid its grand opening on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (Geoff Robins/The London Free Press)
Products await customers at the new Ikea store at White Oaks Mall in London amid its grand opening on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (Geoff Robins/The London Free Press)
Check-out terminals await customers at the new Ikea store at White Oaks Mall in London amid its grand opening on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (Geoff Robins/The London Free Press)
Products await customers at the new Ikea store at White Oaks Mall in London amid its grand opening on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (Geoff Robins/The London Free Press)
Products await customers at the new Ikea store at White Oaks Mall in London amid its grand opening on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (Geoff Robins/The London Free Press)
Camila Romiti, an employee at the new Ikea store in White Oaks Mall in London, puts the finishing touches on the store amid its grand opening on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026.
(Geoff Robins/The London Free Press)
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Along with London’s growing population, the decision to open the compact store reflected shopping trends analyzed by the company, said Ikea Canada chief executive Selwyn Crittendon.
“I believe the data has always shown that many Londoners have been traveling and shopping with us from the Burlington store to our London plan and order point,” Crittendon said.
“The demand has been here. The want of bringing Ikea here. We’ve announced that we wanted to come to London for a long time, and we’re here today.”
Consumers might forget the new Ikea store is in a mall.
Employing about 40 workers, it feels more like a standalone warehouse.
Insulation is visible on the exposed ceiling overhead, and the floors have a more industrial texture than those in White Oaks Mall’s corridors.
With about eight departments, including bedroom furniture and kitchen areas, there’s also an as-is department that gives products a “second life” by offering returned or gently used items at a lower price to reduce waste, Santana said. He noted the Swedish Bite area at the front of the store offers Swedish food-market favourites such as Ikea cookies and the company’s “iconic bag of meatballs.”
A wide array of home furnishings is displayed throughout the store. Customers can explore showroom kitchens and dining areas. And if shoppers spot an orange tag, it means the products are new.
“The Ikea store is laid out with certain principles that are kind of designed to guide the customer through the different areas of the home,” Santana said.
The anticipation for the new Ikea store was apparent.
By 8:45 a.m., more than 75 people were waiting in line for the store’s 10 a.m. opening.
By 9:30 a.m., a couple hundred people were lined up while Ikea officials and politicians, including London Mayor Josh Morgan and London-Fanshawe MP Kurt Holman, gave speeches before a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
But nobody waited longer than Fanshawe student Redlei Tadeo, who showed up at 2:30 a.m.
Redlei Tadeo, 18, at the opening of the new Ikea store at White Oaks Mall in London on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (Geoff Robins/The London Free Press)
A $500 gift card, offered by Ikea to the first five post-secondary students in line, motivated Tadeo to arrive at White Oaks Mall in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
“I was hoping to get a comforter,” Tadeo, 18, said.
Londoners Gary Curry, 79, and Barb Durant, 76, were also in line to browse the new store.
“It’s a great store, especially for family people,” Curry said.
Gary Curry and Barb Durant pose for a photo at the opening of the new Ikea store at White Oaks Mall in London on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (Geoff Robins/The London Free Press)
Durant said she has previously visited Ikea’s Ottawa location and was drawn out by the company’s food.
“I love the Swedish meatballs,” she said. “They’re delicious.”
Santana said the store brings Ikea closer to London customers.
“This store is designed around speed, accessibility, and convenience, while still delivering the Ikea experience that our customers expect,” he said.
Born and raised in London, Brian Williams joined The Free Press in 2023 and has reported extensively on London and the region. His primary focuses are health care and Elgin County.
bwilliams@postmedia.com