Swedish furniture retailer IKEA opens in Merriam, Kan., at 9 a.m. Wednesday, and a line has been forming outside of the store since Monday.
IKEA's promotion for the grand opening includes giving away free furniture to people who start standing in line up to 48 hours in advance of the opening. The first 40 people in line will get a free couch worth $399, the next 100 people will get a $69 chair. On Thursday, the second day the store will be open to the public, IKEA will give the first 40 people a $299 mattress and the next 100 people $59 towards home delivery.
We went to IKEA to ask some of the people waiting what brought them out to wait ... and wait and wait.
"We're wanting to get a bed and hopefully maybe a bed on Thursday, if we get back in line. We saw it on the news and we was all, well, what the heck? We're not doing much of anything. I'm unemployed right now, so that would help a little bit around the house getting a couch and a bed." — Michael Schultz, Olathe, Kan.
"I like IKEA and I am a little bit addicted to IKEA, so I am here. I've had to drive about 6.5 hours to Dallas or Chicago in the past, and it is just three hours away now." — Kathy Trumbly, Nixa, Mo
"I need a new couch. My couch, I've laid on it for 20 years and it is starting to go 'ip, dip,' so I thought 'why not?'" — John Davis, Turner, Kan.
"Most importantly it is just the experience, I think this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and it will be an interesting time. My daughter is homeschooled, so we have all of her homeschool work so we can go ahead and we don't miss any time." — Jessica Boling, Kansas City, Kan.
"I am just here for the free couch because I cannot afford a new couch, so why not do this and get a free couch?" — Monica Murray, Armourdale, Kan.
