Arrested Pug Owner Fired Over Anti-Semitic Allegation
Tim Hortons To Open Thirteen NY Stores On Monday
Teens Throw Rock at Israeli Soldier... On The Upper East Side!
Sharpton To MJ's Kids: "Nothing Strange About Your Daddy"
NYCLU: Schools Are Safer Without Metal Detectors
After nearly six years of controversy, construction, worry and anticipation, the first Ikea in New York City opened in Red Hook, Brooklyn this morning. By the time the doors opened at 9:00 a.m., hundreds of shoppers had gathered on line outside the popular Swedish retailer. A festive atmosphere prevailed without any of the community dissent that had threatened to stymie the project from the beginning.
Instead of demonstrations from neighbors worried about the incoming wave of traffic, the assembled crowd was largely enthusiastic, although one woman on line was heard repeatedly yelling, "Where's my job?" (Ikea gained support from some residents in Red Hook -- a neighborhood with one of the highest poverty rates in New York City -- with the promise of jobs, but has not released details about its some 500 new employees.)
Father-daughter duo Sanchez and Brandice Jay were the first two shoppers to pass over Ikea's threshold, following a morning of music and short speeches from city officials, culminating in a ceremonial "wood sawing" instead of the typical ribbon cutting.
Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz was, of course, on hand to welcome Ikea, declaring, "From this day forward, Red Hook will be one of the best known neighborhoods in New York City and New York State... Hundreds of local residents now have the opportunity to move up the economic ladder... Germany is currently the leading country in terms of Ikea sales and the United States is #2. Well, that's about to change. Here in Brooklyn we don't like being #2 to anyone and I have no doubt that in a very short time the Brooklyn Ikea will be the most prosperous of the 281 worldwide locations!"
add to digg
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
The view from the cafeteria. Fun fact: The Red Hook Ikea is one of the only Ikeas in the world that has windows.
Is that so you don't know what time it is? Similar to Las Vegas. I wonder if they pump oxygen in too.
I can't believe it's finally open! Wait, why do I care? I'll never go there. When does the Hooters open in Williamsburg?
I'm glad it's finally open so I don't have to hear about it anymore.
bad news for mom & pop crappy furniture stores
i bet my brothas and sistas stole mad shit from this store-izzle.
culminating in a ceremonial "wood sawing" instead of the typical ribbon cutting
'Wood' being a term used VERY loosely here.
The parking lot looks full. That's pretty amazing considering its only Wednesday morning. Imagine how its going to be on the weekend.
Oh Puhleeease, you all know you love Ikea.
I mean, MALM anyone?
The cafeteria of the ikea in Elizabeth has windows... I'll be heading there sometime next week to have some swedish meatballs (not to NJ, to RH I mean...)
And I like ikea. Most of my stuff is from there and it has fared better than stuff from other places.
I'm pretty sure I could see out the window at an Ikea in CT...New Haven perhaps.
The first Ikea in New York City opened in Red Hook, Brooklyn this morning.
Swede.
new york is the only place i can think of where consumers cheer at store openings. I think the first mac store opening was by far the most nauseating.
I was there when Apple opened. When Pinkberry moved in. When target opened their doors. When uniqlo set foot. bestbuy. crate and barrel. Muji. I was there. Except for Ikea. next month, baby. Next month.
$79 delivery?
Gothic Cabinet Craft for me.
www.forgotten-ny.com
[8]I mean, MALM anyone?
You're right. Fine IKEA brands like SPONG, BUMNER, HIV, PUST, and SMEG are now available in NYC.
Cool. Now I can get those awesome swedish meatballs in bulk.
I'm glad it's finally open so I don't have to hear about it anymore.
My thoughts exactly. I did go to an Ikea once in Shanghai though, and those meatballs certainly are amazing.
#12, New York consumers are not the only ones that cheer for store openings. Until you've seen the line of white trash outside of the opening of a Super Wal-Mart, you have no clue what nauseating is.
The founder of Ikea, a multi-billionaire, takes public transportation to work, flies coach, owns a decade-old Volvo and doesn't wear business suits.
Unlike American big-box stores such as Wal-Mart, Ikea treats their employees well and minimize waste. They re-use product parts to extend product lines and reduce fuel costs. They encourage shoppers to bring their own shopping bags. Even their cafeteria re-washes real plates and real flatware instead of using plastic or paper disposables.
Contrast this ethic to Wal-Mart or most other big-box American stores.
Hope everyone is enjoying The Brooklyn Papers intense video coverage from its Ikea Bureau. Check it out at
http://www.brooklynpaper.com/sections/media/podcast/
Thanks
GERSH
I bought a box that was kind of heavy and very attractively priced. I don't know what it was because I threw it into a dumpster half a block away. Does this mean I'm a veteran IKEA shopper?