By: Mary Ohnesorge
Hej there! The massive Swedish furniture chain IKEA has just opened its latest store — and it’s right here in Tulsa Hills! I decided to take a closer look during opening week at this “miniature” version of the shop. From the showrooms, the meatballs, and the decor that seems to never end, IKEA has something for everyone.
IKEA, a global store known for its massive selection of furniture, is opening ten new locations across the United States, including their first location in Oklahoma! The Tulsa Hills Shopping Center is welcoming a mini-IKEA, around 51,000 square feet. For reference, it’s about 15% of the size of the massive IKEA Frisco in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Over fall break, KOTV and News on 6 announced the long-awaited IKEA would open on Friday, October 23rd, with a grand opening featuring celebrations and prize drawings.
IKEA is incredibly popular for a reason — there’s just nothing else like it. It’s not often you walk into a store and see immaculately cleaned and pre-furnished rooms that try to convince you this lamp is exactly what you need to fix your living room’s environment.
Now, I was aware that the grand opening was about to be incredibly crowded, so I needed a plan to get there beforehand.
Luckily for me, my mother strangely has an IKEA membership and found herself an invite to the Members Premiere on October 21st. We registered and headed that way; IKEA certainly did not disappoint.
For something called a “miniature” version, it feels like an understatement. Though missing the self-serve warehouse, IKEA Tulsa had every other staple. Every popular piece, the showrooms, and, of course, the iconic Swedish meatballs.
The beautiful furniture was sleek and modern, with cozy details like embroidered pillows or sheepskin rugs. The Billy bookshelf stood tall and proud in many of the gorgeous fake bedrooms, and I snapped several pics of the RÅSKOG utility cart to add to my Christmas Wish List.
The IKEA showrooms, perfectly prepared for opening week.
IKEA employees were looking forward to the event as well.
“I have a vivid memory of going to IKEA in Houston for a friend’s birthday. We were doing this challenge to redecorate,” employee Juan said. “It was really fun. I’m really excited to see how we execute the opening.”
My favorite showroom! A kitchen, set dressed perfectly with IKEA tags everywhere
Being in IKEA felt surreal. It was like a bright version of the backrooms. The fake windows were off, the decorated rooms too perfect. It wasn’t an unsettling or creepy experience; I just felt very aware of my surroundings the whole time. It was almost as though I was being observed by how I interacted with the showrooms.
To be fair, this uncanny feeling could’ve come from the fact that they had nearly every single worker in the store active. At least five workers ran each station, probably to keep it under control for opening week, but instead it just looked overcrowded and unproductive.
Nonetheless, there were a couple of rooms that people seemed drawn to. I found a crowd of middle-aged women admiring the pristine kitchens, a few teenagers wandering the gaming setups, and even a woman dragging her child away from the unicorn plush in the children’s section. IKEA had something for everyone to admire.
Rows of chromatically arranged cushions and home textiles line the shelves of IKEA, showcasing the wide variety of color options they have to offer.
My friend—Jenks High School junior—EJ Onley and I were very appreciative of the convenience of the furniture. One of the kitchens was painted a beautiful emerald green, and when we opened a drawer, it turned out to be a hidden dishwasher. I was in literal awe of something so simple.
We were giggling and gasping at every tiny thing and very quickly realized we were the target audience. We kept repeating a simple catchphrase: “We’re so annoying.”
Onley and I went on opening day to get the full experience of the thrill.
“I was expecting one bedroom scene or one kitchen, and then the rest of it was a boring store,” said Onley. “But they really brought IKEA to life and they made me feel like I’m not isolated from the rest of the world.”
Onley was ecstatic for IKEA to move so close by. It’s a big move not only for IKEA enthusiasts, but for the city itself. Sometimes, living in the Jenks-Tulsa area can feel like a small town in Oklahoma, but we often forget how much we have going on. It’s easy to take it for granted how much we have in our city. With IKEA, our not-so-small town grows a little bigger with a beloved addition.
“Obviously, there will be a larger economic and tourist boost in Tulsa,” Onley said. “But it’ll bring not just outside guests in, but inside guests closer.”
The Swedish store is ready to be in business! Stop on by!
