The IKEA in Draper, UT is opening on Wednesday, May 23 and, like other IKEA openings, this grand opening will be big:

Starting May 21, two days before the Swedish home furnishings giant’s grand opening in Draper, customers can start pitching their tents outside the new blue and yellow building at 67 W. IKEA Way.

Upwards of several thousand visitors are expected to throng the store’s official opening at 9 a.m. Wednesday, which will feature a traditional Swedish log-sawing ceremony and the raising of U.S., Swedish and Utah flags by various dignitaries, said Joseph Roth, director of public affairs for IKEA North America.

Gift certificates of between $10 and $250 will be given to the first 2,500 visitors on May 23, while free armchairs and heart-shaped cushions will be given to the first 100 adults and 100 children respectively.

(From the Daily Herald, IKEA gears up for grand opening: Thousands expected on opening day. The Daily Herald article also has a link to a Youtube video showing a tour of new store.)

Just how big of an impact does the IKEA opening have on a local community? Maybe this is one indication:

With such keen interest in the new store, Draper has spent much of the past year preparing for IKEA’s opening day. Neither IKEA nor Draper would provide an estimate of how many people the company is anticipating will show up the first day. Draper said only that it is excepting a crowd in the “high thousands.”

Draper officials, including its economic development director, the city’s traffic engineer and representatives from police, fire and highway patrol departments, traveled in June of last year to Canton, Mich., to experience an IKEA grand opening firsthand.

From opening day through Memorial Day, there will be no less than 35 police officers at the store to make sure things run smoothly, said David Baird, Draper City economic development director.

While the first six days are expected be very busy, Baird of Draper said he is expecting a high level of customers for weeks - even months - after that.

“We’ll have some pretty intense traffic in the area for at least six weeks,” he said. “And on weekends for quite a while.”

(From the Salt Lake Tribute, IKEA defines big.)

The opening of this store a long time coming, but has been met with opposition from several groups in the local community. As another story from the Daily Herald adds:

“IKEA definitely means do-it-yourself. They’re the biggest peddler of junk besides Wal-Mart,” said I.M. Home founder Craig Knott, who hosted a “The Bachelor” casting call on Friday to boost foot traffic to his store.

“My wife and I shopped at IKEA when we lived in Chicago. We got some furniture like dressers, beds. Not one piece survived the move back to Utah.

“Once people realize they have to put everything together, and the furniture doesn’t last, the allure will pass.”

(More from the Daily Herald, IKEA to open in Draper May 23.)

If anyone attends the grand opening and takes photos, please share them with us!