Here’s when a new IKEA is expected to open in southern Ontario

IKEA Canada recently announced plans to open a new store in southern Ontario.

The company said it will “introduce a new type of small format store designed to make affordable, functional, and inspiring home furnishings more convenient.”

The smaller location will be aimed at quick visits and everyday essentials, IKEA said.

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The store will be located in London’s White Oaks Mall.

“By offering the iconic IKEA store experience on a smaller scale, we are leaning into the physical store that we are best known for while delivering an innovative approach that reflects a rapidly changing retail landscape and customer preferences,” said IKEA Canada CEO Selwyn Crittendon.

“Customers have responded positively to pilot stores in other countries, and we will continue to listen to co-worker and customer feedback to renew and improve.”

The London location will be around 43,000 square feet, which is one-fifth of the size of the Burlington IKEA, and will include room settings.

It will have a portion of the full IKEA range available in-store, as well as the ability to order the full IKEA product offering with delivery and pickup options.

There will also be a selection of IKEA food available, the company said.

“This new type of small store takes a different approach to establishing and operating to complement our other physical and digital customer meeting points, strengthen the omnichannel experience, and give customers more ways to shop with IKEA,” Crittendon said.

“By being faster and more cost-effective to operationalize, these stores enable us to be present in more communities. The London area has always been an important market for IKEA Canada, and we’re thrilled to build on our existing presence with this exciting new store concept that will best serve the many Londoners.”

In March 2024, IKEA opened the service-based London “plan and order point.”

Ingka Group, which is the largest IKEA retailer, last month announced an intention to open 20 new small locations in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Canada.

It said the new stores are designed to be more cost-efficient and “can open significantly faster than traditional or metropolitan city stores.”

IKEA said that as of now, the London location is the only one confirmed for Canada.

While IKEA said the smaller stores can open a lot faster than its usual ones, the London location is still several months away from opening its doors.

A specific date wasn’t provided, but IKEA said that it will be opening sometime in the Fall of this year.

“After the end of FY26, the company will evaluate the performance of the new compact stores and decide on the next steps,” Ingka Group said.

Images via ingka.com