Ikea Opens Largest North American Store in Burbank

February 9, 2017  by Larry Thomas in Industry, Store Openings   

The new store is less than a mile from Ikea’s previous store in Burbank, which opened in 1990 and was the retailer’s oldest North American location. That store closed its doors for good last Saturday.

The new Burbank store employs approximately 575 people (including 150 new hires) and features 10,000 exclusively-designed items, a 600-seat Ikea Restaurant, 50 inspirational room settings, three model home interiors, a supervised children’s play area and approximately 1,700 parking spaces with six electric vehicle charging stations. 

Also, the store – in addition to selling only LED lighting – has incorporated only LED fixtures for use inside and outside the building

“We are excited about building upon our established Burbank presence with a new, roomier store so close to the original one, and in the same city,” said Jeff O’Shaughnessy, store manager.  “The enthusiasm of coworkers about offering customers an updated, spacious and enhanced IKEA shopping experience is translating into excitement and a great shopping event for our customers.”

Before the doors opened, O’Shaughnessy welcomed the community with a traditional Swedish log-sawing ceremony, bringing good luck to the new store and its guests.  In addition to brief remarks by Burbank Mayor Jess Talamantes, O’Shaughnessy was joined by Ikea Burbank’s four employees who have been at Ikea since the original store opened 26 years ago. The group raised the U.S. and California flags, and Honorary Swedish Consul General for California Barbro Osher raised the Swedish flag.

There are now 392 Ikea stores in 48 countries, including 43 in the United States.