IKEA Adapts Store Model to City Life with New Layout for Queens Location

We’ve all been there—if you’re planning a trip to IKEA, you better clear your schedule before trekking out to this retail experience that borders on a scavenger hunt. There have even been extensive guides written about how to navigate for first-timers (don’t forget the meatballs!) Unfortunately for most city-dwellers, IKEA has maintained a stronghold in those more spacious suburbs which can accommodate its massive warehouse-like layout.

According to PR Newswire, the brand is planning a location in Queens that will be the first U.S. store, adopting a more streamlined layout. The new store model supports a more seamless, omni-channel experience for consumers and offers home delivery, assembly and installation.

"We know that more than half of Queens' residents travel via public transportation, and we selected Rego Park for this new store concept to meet the unique needs of this customer,” said Leontyne Green Sykes, Chief Operating Officer, IKEA Retail U.S. in a press release.

As more consumers are turning to delivery giants like Amazon, retail and foodservice franchises have begun adapting their business models to a marketplace that favors exceptional online experiences and convenient delivery options. This store is just one piece of IKEA’s larger-scale adaptation to meet these consumer trends with services such as an enhanced e-commerce experience, more affordable shipping and a customer fulfillment center for the markets surrounding Staten Island.