{"id":914476,"date":"2026-09-29T20:30:21","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T20:30:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/914476\/"},"modified":"2026-09-29T20:30:21","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T20:30:21","slug":"hundreds-line-up-as-canadas-first-compact-ikea-opens-in-london","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/914476\/","title":{"rendered":"Hundreds line up as Canada\u2019s first compact Ikea opens in London"},"content":{"rendered":"

With its \u201ciconic\u201d blue and yellow colouring, customers will recognize it as \u201cunmistakably Ikea.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s how Danny Santana, Ikea London\u2019s deputy market manager, described the Swedish company\u2019s first \u201ccompact store\u201d in Canada, which opened Tuesday morning at White Oaks Mall in London\u2019s south end.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe difference is that we\u2019ve reimagined that experience into a more compact, convenient format designed specifically with London customers in mind,\u201d Santana said. \u201c(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.\u201d<\/p>\n

At roughly 3,995 square metres (43,000 square feet), Canada\u2019s 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\u2019s also a self-serve area featuring about 400 furniture items available for immediate takeaway.<\/p>\n

Despite being smaller than the more \u201csubstantial footprint\u201d of the Burlington store \u2013 the closest full-size Ikea location to London \u2013 Santana said customers still have access to the home-furnishing giant\u2019s entire product catalogue.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Shopping\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\tShopping 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)\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Customers\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\tCustomers 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)\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Selwyn\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\tSelwyn 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)\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Products\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\tProducts 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)\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Products\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\tProducts 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)\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Check\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\tCheck-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)\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Products\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\tProducts 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)\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Products\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\tProducts 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)\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Camila\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\tCamila 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.
\n(Geoff Robins\/The London Free Press)\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t1 \/ 9\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Along with London\u2019s growing population, the decision to open the compact store reflected shopping trends analyzed by the company, said Ikea Canada chief executive Selwyn Crittendon.<\/p>\n

\u201cI 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,\u201d Crittendon said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe demand has been here. The want of bringing Ikea here. We\u2019ve announced that we wanted to come to London for a long time, and we\u2019re here today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Consumers might forget the new Ikea store is in a mall.<\/p>\n

Employing about 40 workers, it feels more like a standalone warehouse.<\/p>\n

Insulation is visible on the exposed ceiling overhead, and the floors have a more industrial texture than those in White Oaks Mall\u2019s corridors.<\/p>\n

With about eight departments, including bedroom furniture and kitchen areas, there\u2019s also an as-is department that gives products a \u201csecond life\u201d 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\u2019s \u201ciconic bag of meatballs.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Ikea store is laid out with certain principles that are kind of designed to guide the customer through the different areas of the home,\u201d Santana said.<\/p>\n

The anticipation for the new Ikea store was apparent.<\/p>\n

By 8:45 a.m., more than 75 people were waiting in line for the store\u2019s 10 a.m. opening.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

But nobody waited longer than Fanshawe student Redlei Tadeo, who showed up at 2:30 a.m.<\/p>\n

\"-STORYRedlei 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) <\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was hoping to get a comforter,\u201d Tadeo, 18, said.<\/p>\n

Londoners Gary Curry, 79, and Barb Durant, 76, were also in line to browse the new store.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a great store, especially for family people,\u201d Curry said.<\/p>\n

\"-STORYGary 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) <\/p>\n

Durant said she has previously visited Ikea\u2019s Ottawa location and was drawn out by the company\u2019s food.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love the Swedish meatballs,\u201d she said. \u201cThey\u2019re delicious.\u201d<\/p>\n

Santana said the store brings Ikea closer to London customers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis store is designed around speed, accessibility, and convenience, while still delivering the Ikea experience that our customers expect,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Profile<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tBorn 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.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tbwilliams@postmedia.com
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