IKEA is opening a new kind of store in Texas
If you’ve shopped at IKEA before, you know the routine: massive structures, endless showrooms, and, of course, the meatballs. Well, IKEA is trying something new now—and they’re doing it right here in Texas.
San Marcos, not Dallas, Austin, or San Antonio, has been chosen as the location for IKEA’s first small-format store in the state. The store opens on Wednesday at the San Mar Plaza shopping center, located at 917 Texas 80, right off Interstate 35.
This new location will be a smaller, easier-to-shop version of the IKEA you’re used to—and it’s a big deal for local fans of the brand.
What is a small-format IKEA store?
The San Marcos store is 35,000 square feet. That sounds big, but it’s actually much smaller than a typical IKEA store. To compare:
The IKEA in Live Oak is 289,000 square feet
The IKEA in Round Rock is 306,000 square feet
That makes the San Marcos store only about one-eighth the size of those full-size stores.
But don’t worry—you’ll still be able to browse a wide selection of modern IKEA furniture and home goods. According to the company:
- The store will have 2,500 products on display
- Around 2,000 items will be available for immediate purchase
- A small Swedish Food Market will offer snacks and specialty foods
So even though it’s a smaller store, it still packs a punch.
Why San Marcos?
Why not Dallas? Or Austin? Or one of the bigger cities in Texas?
Well, San Marcos is in a sweet spot—literally and geographically. It’s located right between Austin and San Antonio, along the busy I-35 corridor. That area has seen major growth over the past few years, making it an ideal location for a more accessible, community-focused store.
Javier Quiñones, IKEA U.S. CEO & Chief Sustainability Officer, summed it up as follows:
> “The San Marcos IKEA store opening is a fantastic illustration of our strategy in developing smaller, more convenient store formats along this journey to a more connected and accessible IKEA experience for the many.”
That is, IKEA wants to make shopping easier and more convenient, and San Marcos is the perfect location to try that out in Texas.
What to expect at the grand opening
The store doesn’t officially open until 9 a.m. on Wednesday, but if you want to be a part of the buzz, you’ll want to arrive much earlier. Here’s what’s happening:
- Lineup begins at 7 a.m.
- Start the month-long celebration with a street performance of mariachi music by students from San Marcos High School
- Customers will be able to win gift cards and furniture giveaways
- The first 100 kids in the door will get a free soft toy
It’s a family-friendly event and an excellent way to get a look at the new store before the crowds arrive.
What this means for shoppers
The new IKEA store in San Marcos is designed for quick, simple shopping. No department store maze to negotiate, no getting lost in a building as big as a warehouse. You can simply stop by, grab what you need, and be on your way.
And if they don’t have what you’re looking for in stock, you’ll still be able to order items online and have them delivered to your home—or to the store for pickup.
It’s part of IKEA’s larger plan to create a more flexible shopping experience, especially for people who don’t live close to one of the larger stores.
Read this much later:
Good news for Trump – Coca-Cola to launch new American soft drink with cane sugar this fall
