The wait is over: Ikea opens in Merriam at 9 a.m. Wednesday

The showrooms are stocked. The cafeteria’s ready. Traffic plans are in place. And the long line of early bird customers is assembled.

Ikea at Interstate 35 and Johnson Drive in Merriam opens at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Shoppers need to take Johnson Drive to Ikea Way, which will be converted to a one-way street southbound for the opening. Ikea has 1,200 parking spaces on-site. Or they can park in the 700-plus-space lot of the former Kmart at 8703 W. 63rd St., where shuttles will run to and from Ikea.

Everyone who comes to shop will get a look at what the Swedish home furnishings retailer has to offer. And the first 40 people in the queue — who started lining up 48 hours ahead of time — will get a $399 Ektorp sofa. The next 100 people will receive a $69 Poang armchair. And the next 2,500 people will receive a “mystery” envelope containing an Ikea gift card worth anywhere from $10 to $250.

This story was originally published September 9, 2014 at 10:31 PM with the headline "The wait is over: Ikea opens in Merriam at 9 a.m. Wednesday."