IKEA to open in Norfolk!

[HRVA]

Norfolk Plans for IKEA Grand Opening

The city’s plans for handling IKEA traffic includes a dozen officers at various surrounding intersections and 5 30-passenger shuttles from IKEA & the outlets. Virginia Beach will also have officers patrolling intersections on the Virginia Beach side of Northampton. 

[ORF flyer]

I attended a grand opening in Ohio several years ago and it was a MAD HOUSE.  The lines throughout the store felt like a musemum.  I'll give it at least 3 weeks before heading to.

[lammius]

I've never been to an IKEA grand opening, but the stores in Elizabeth and Brooklyn can be a MAD HOUSE any given weekend.  I agree with flyer on giving it a few weeks, and even then the best time to go is a Monday or Tuesday before 4pm.  

[lil-bear]

There needs to be a pedestrian bridge over I-64 connecting IKEA and the outlets. Then shuttles wouldn't be needed.

[HRVA]

ORF shared a before and after aerial of the IKEA site.   

[carolinaboy]

Anyone going to the opening today has to report back the situation here.

[SuffolkWahoo]

Pedestrian bridge or a monorail would be dope.

[Willy18]

....or they can just shuttle people in school buses. 

 

Beta testing for VB

[Norf Native]

I wonder (if the timing had been right) if Ikea could have taken over the Nordstrom space in the mall downtown.  Can you imagine what that would have done to the mall and downtown as a whole?   

[HRVA]

58 minutes ago, Norf native said:

I wonder (if the timing had been right) if Ikea could have taken over the Nordstrom space in the mall downtown.  Can you imagine what that would have done to the mall and downtown as a whole?   

I doubt this would have happened. Nordstrom is only 180k sf while IKEA is 331k. And if IIRC that’s smaller than average. Furthermore, IKEA & the outlets are essentially  a couple - we either got both or neither. 

[carolinaboy]

So, does anyone have anything to report?

[HRVA]

27 minutes ago, carolinaboy said:

So, does anyone have anything to report?

I went opening night. They handled traffic very well and they were certainly busy. Beyond that, once you’ve seen one you’ve seen them all. Kinda wish the garage was attached to the store. 

[lammius]

Which side of the building is the cafe on?  If it's in the back, it looks like maybe you get a good view of the airport?  My favorite thing about Ikea Elizabeth, NJ is that you can sit by the windows in the cafe and watch planes take off/land at Newark airport, watch traffic on the Turnpike, and see the cranes moving at the port.  Would be cool if there's a similar experience at Ikea Norfolk with the airport and I-64 right there.  

[HRVA]

21 minutes ago, lammius said:

Which side of the building is the cafe on?  If it's in the back, it looks like maybe you get a good view of the airport?  My favorite thing about Ikea Elizabeth, NJ is that you can sit by the windows in the cafe and watch planes take off/land at Newark airport, watch traffic on the Turnpike, and see the cranes moving at the port.  Would be cool if there's a similar experience at Ikea Norfolk with the airport and I-64 right there.  

I didn’t go into the cafe but it’s located on the southwest portion of the second floor so the view if any would be of the surface parking lot. 

[Up2313]

Can confirm, just a view of the parking lot. 

[lil-bear]

One would have thought that they would have altered the floor plan to offer a view of the lake right behind building.