A dozen Winnipeg police officers will be on hand for the opening of IKEA next week, for an opening-day retail frenzy that’s been two months in the planning.
The police presence will continue for four more days, as officials expect the weekend to be even busier than the grand opening November 28th. The police will be on overtime, paid by the Swedish furniture giant.
“IKEA is footing the bill,” said Winnipeg Police Staff Sergeant Kelly Dennison in an interview Monday with Global News.
A handful of employees with the store’s security division in the United Kingdom will be on hand to make sure everything runs smoothly.
Around 20,000 people are expected to shop the first day.
IKEA said despite the incentive to be among the first inside, they don’t want people to line up for days.
“We will have security guards at all parking lot entrances,” said Maegan Sheskey, with IKEA Winnipeg.
No one will be allowed to line up before midnight the night before the store opening November 28th.
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Sheskey said for the first few days staff will be parking off site and shuttled into work to free up spaces for customers.
More plans for the grand opening were unveiled Monday and include a $75 gift card for the first 1000 shoppers in line.
Global News obtained images Monday inside the nearly-complete and fully stocked 395,000 square foot store at Kenaston Boulevard and Sterling Lyon Parkway. The images were not supplied by IKEA.
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