The wait is nearly over for Ikea's first store in Wisconsin.
The company announced Thursday the store will open at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 16, in Oak Creek, about 12 miles south of Milwaukee. It marks the company's 48th store in the U.S. -- and excitement for Wisconsin residents who traveled to Bolingbrook or Schaumburg in Illinois or Bloomington in Minnesota for their Ikea fix.
While opening day plans and promotions are still forthcoming, Ikea noted in a statement that customers can begin lining up at 5 a.m. on May 16.
“We are thrilled by the construction progress to date, and believe we can complete the remaining milestones and interior build-up by May," store manager Samantha Gravina said in a statement. "Besides furnishing our store, we are also focused on recruiting and training all of our coworkers joining the IKEA family."
Open job opportunities listed online include positions in "sales, customer service, goods flow, receiving, warehouse and stock replenishment."
The 293,000-square-foot store was built on 29 acres at the northwestern corner of Interstate 94 and Drexel Avenue and will include nearly 10,000 exclusively designed items, 50 room settings, three model home interiors, a restaurant and a play area for children.
Last year, Ikea increased its average minimum hourly wage to $11.87, which is $4.62 above the current federal wage and marks a $1.11 increase, or 10 percent, from the previous year’s average minimum pay.
