This Is Exactly Where IKEA Philippines Will Be Opening
See where the world's largest IKEA is rising, and check out what they have in store for us!
Are you dying to see the world’s most popular furniture store open on our own shores? Well, good news: it was finally announced this morning, November 20, at IKEA’s official press conference at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City, that the first IKEA Philippines store will be definitely be opening in late 2020.
Biggest IKEA store in the world
What we were surprised to find out was that the first IKEA store in the Philippines would also be the largest store in the world at 65,000sqm in floor space—double the size of the typical IKEA big blue-box store, and approximately the same size as 150 basketball courts!
IKEA Southeast Asia has dropped some P7 billion in initial investment to fit out, stock, market, and staff this first store.
Mall of Asia location
When prodded about its exact location, the IKEA folks revealed that it is currently rising in the former parking area between Mall of Asia Arena and the SMX Convention Center within the Mall of Asia Grounds (SM Prime Holdings, above). The store will be directly linked to the Mall of Asia (MOA) through direct walkways, making it easier and more accessible to shoppers.
At the official launch, the IKEA team welcomed media guests, displayed various IKEA setups and an electronic jeepney painted in IKEA's colors (below), and served IKEA’s iconic Swedish meatballs. Georg Platzer, IKEA’s Market Development Manager, reveals that he had been in the Philippines for two-and-a-half years, secretly working with a small team to set the whole thing up.
“I have never seen more excitement in any of the new markets I’ve worked with so far,” Platzer shares. “You guys are awesome!”
