Second metro Atlanta IKEA (sort of) on tap to open this week

Much like the Atlanta Braves of a decade ago, Swedish furniture mega-chain IKEA is making an investment in Atlanta’s northern suburbs to increase access to customers there. (Just don’t expect to drive away with a ready-to-assemble couch on the day of purchase.)

IKEA plans to open its second metro Atlanta location with a new format concept Wednesday morning at 7681 North Point Parkway in Alpharetta. That’s in the Mansell Crossing Shopping Center, situated off Ga. Highway 400 Exit 8.

Officially IKEA is calling the concept the Alpharetta Plan and Order point with Pick-up.

Instead of a vast showroom and warehouse for wandering, the pared-down store is designed for allowing customers to meet with IKEA staff and put together plans for more complex home furnishing projects. Such as full bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens, according to a company announcement.

Shoppers won’t be able to take home products on the day of visits. But staff will set up home delivery, or orders can be picked up at the Alpharetta outpost, per IKEA.

The mini IKEA's location at the Mansell Crossing Shopping Center, with Ga. Highway 400 shown at left in blue. Google Maps

First announced in March, the OTP IKEA concept will total about 4,300 square feet—a small fraction of the size of the company's 366,000-square-foot complex in Atlanta.

“We’re excited to give Atlanta metro area consumers a new way to shop IKEA,” said Javier Quiñones, IKEA U.S.’s CEO and chief sustainability officer, in a prepared statement. “The new Alpharetta location highlights our efforts to bring IKEA closer to the many people and make it easier and more affordable to access our home furnishing products and solutions.”

Perhaps it's hard to believe, but IKEA has been operating in the Atlanta market for nearly 20 years, having opened its intown location on 16th Street near Atlantic Station in 2005.

Below, find all preview images IKEA has to offer as an example of how the Alpharetta location will look and function. (Note: This is not the actual Alpharetta location.)

Courtesy of IKEA