- The much-anticipated IKEA opening in Heraklion, Crete, won’t happen as planned.
- A new date is set for April 16, just in time for the Easter shopping rush.
- Construction delays in the parking and entry areas caused the postponement.
- The older location on Ikarou Avenue is already shut down.
- Official celebrations for the opening will follow in mid-April.
- Additional stores in the same retail park are expected by June.
Postponed Again: Heraklion’s New IKEA
In a twist that feels as predictable as a missing screw in a flat-pack sofa, the grand unveiling of Heraklion’s shiny new IKEA has hit another snag. The doors, set initially to swing open on April 2, will now remain firmly closed until April 16. Why? Because smooth entry and parking matter more than just having shelves fully stocked. Construction delays at the commercial park’s outdoor areas—primarily parking lots and access routes—are to blame.
Eager shoppers prepared to negotiate the maze of home goods and minimalist solutions will, as anticipated, have to set their Skådis hooks and Billy bookcases on hold for two more weeks. Because nothing screams celebration like building furniture for five hours before falling onto a new couch, on the positive side, it’s a deadline that nearly coincides with the booming Easter shopping rush.
What’s the Hold-Up, Really?
Word on the street (or rather, the Old National Road near Nea Alikarnassos) is that the contractor ran into delays completing the outdoor areas. The list of unfinished business includes parking spaces and essential entry/exit pathways, which are crucial if you want visitors to bring their cars instead of just walking in with reusable bags slung over their shoulders.
Meanwhile, the original IKEA branch on Ikarou Avenue has already pulled the shutters permanently, leaving loyal customers in a bit of a retail limbo. The temporary inconvenience is likely testing the patience of anyone who just wanted to quickly grab a meatball fix or pick up some urgently needed Swedish-sounding home accessories.
Big Day Plans: Delays Be Damned
Barring another surprise plot twist, the new IKEA—clocking in at an impressive (and slightly intimidating) 10,000 square meters—is now set to greet customers on the morning of April 16, coinciding with the more forgiving calendar vibe of Holy Wednesday.
Official opening ceremonies are already planned for later in April, promising a party atmosphere with surprises (and PR-approved smiles, no doubt). By June, the retail park expects to add other stores to its mix, offering the Cretan crowd a complete shopping spree hub. Until then, locals have time to sharpen their flat-pack assembly skills or contemplate life without whatever impossibly complicated wall units IKEA is offering next.
