IKEA opens its first bricks and mortar store in Ukraine today

IKEA opens its first bricks and mortar store in Ukraine today, at Kyiv’s Blockbuster Mall, the company announces on Instagram. The store will be the first in SE Europe new ‘city format’ – 5,000 square meters, instead of the usual 30,000 square meters. The Swedish furniture retailer has tried to enter Ukraine for the last 15 years. It was blocked first by corruption then by construction delays at Ocean Mall. Last May, IKEA started an internet store and was immediately overwhelmed. Since it opened distribution points in three Kyiv shopping centers: Auchan Rive Gauche, Metro Cash & Carry and Lavina Mall.