Thousands turn out for grand opening of Ikea store

By Chris Kudialis

Published Wednesday, May 18, 2016 | 10:21 a.m.

Updated Wednesday, May 18, 2016 | 1:07 p.m.

Thousands of people lined up for today’s grand opening of the Las Vegas Valley’s first Ikea store, but none earlier than Junie Zhu.

Wearing an Ikea T-shirt, Zhu, 23, of Las Vegas proudly displayed a wristband with the number 001 — first in line for the much-anticipated opening of the Sweedish furniture giant’s store at Durango Drive and Sunset Road.

Some 3,000 people were in the parking lot early this morning as the Legacy High School marching band and balloon-twisting clowns on stilts entertained the crowd. Inside, employees with noise makers waited to throw open the doors at 9 o’clock.

Zhu had been in line with her neighbor Guanxia Shen, 48, since Monday morning so they could be among the first 42 customers to get a free Ikea couch valued at $400. They put up a tent in the parking lot, where they slept for two nights before the opening.

Zhu’s husband, Robbin Hu, brought them meals, because those in line were not allowed to leave and keep their places, he said.

“Everyone was so nice, and we all became friends,” Zhu said. “We basically just played Jenga and card games all day. It was a lot of fun.”

Just before the doors opened, American, Swedish and Nevada flags were raised on a pole in front of the store — the first in Nevada. Inside, customers were greeted by some 300 cheering store employees, who clapped thundersticks and offered high-fives.

After the first 42 customers, an additional 100 shoppers received a free chair valued at $100 and another 2,500 got envelopes containing mystery prizes — gift cards from $10 to $250 and coupons for treats.

“This is just awesome,” said Jason Skjonsby, 39, who had also been waiting in line since Monday to be one of the store’s first 42 customers.

So many people showed up for the grand opening that the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada issued a tweet warning drivers to expect traffic delays in the area all day.

“We couldn’t be happier with the turnout,” Ikea spokesman Joseph Roth said. “This is exactly what we were hoping for this morning.”

The store is Ikea’s 42nd in the United States and the 385th location across 48 countries worldwide. The two-level Las Vegas store offering Ikea’s low-cost, self-assembly furniture also includes a 450-seat restaurant serving, among other things, Swedish meatballs.