Downtown IKEA showroom opening tomorrow

IKEA is opening a downtown Toronto showroom. It is located at 143 King St E-- a half block from our condo apartment, on the south side of King St. between Jarvis and Church, across from St. James Park.

According to the press release posted at the IKEA website, the premise will operate as a temporary promotional facility, used to display merchandise in connection with the launch / release of the new 2009 catalog.

The 1.5 floor showroom was a hub of activity when I walked by it today. In the morning a tradesman was in the process of replacing the gold leaf lettering on the windows that originally read "opening July 31" with new signage that reads "Style 2009". The billowing white "black-out" drapes hanging in the front windows were still in place when I passed by at NOON but the front doors opened a few times (to admit deliveries) as I was passing, allowing me a peek inside.

Based on what I spied then, it appeared they still have a lot of work on their hands to complete the showroom, if they hoped to be up and running in time for the "media only" sneak peak today. However when I passed by tonight, the curtains had been removed and there were people mingling inside. A truck out front was unloading large wide gift bags. And a team of black outfitted valets were standing in a row waiting to park cars.

According to an article in the National Post, the outlet will not be permanent. The posting at the IKEA website suggests that it will close August 3. It seems like much ado just to open a venue for a 4 day promo event (over the long civic holiday weekend when many city dwellers will escape the city for cottage country).

In any case. this observer plans to visit the showroom sometime over the course of the next few days and post a report at this blog for those of you who are unable to make it out for an in person visit! I expect the showroom will attract alot of traffic from the office towers in the downtown core over lunch hour on Thursday and Friday and will then attract some curious St. Lawrence Market shoppers on Saturday.