Ikea’s Tottenham store closed its doors for the last time on Wednesday evening, bowing out with £1 meatballs and hundreds of sale items.
Locals who have been shopping at the Swedish-founded, Dutch-based furniture retail chain since 2005 have said the closure was “truly heartbreaking”.
The north London branch is shutting down after 17 years. With most of the furniture bought or removed from the usually busy showrooms, customers said it was a “strange experience” walking through the store in its final days.
Walking through IKEA Tottenham with empty room settings last night was a strange experience. Wallpaper and fake windows still in place but the furniture gone. It closes today. Last purchases included freezer bags, herrings, pickles and a box of biscuits!
— Leigh Stanford (@LeighFStanford) August 31, 2022
One customer wrote on social media: “For so many years, anyone who lived in North or East London who wanted to go to IKEA had to travel all the way to the Wembley branch. In 2005 these same shoppers were overjoyed when IKEA opened their Tottenham store!!Today, after 17 years, that store is closing to make way for (more) property development.
“Bye Bye IKEA Tottenham - it’s been a complete pleasure! I am annoyed you’re going!!”
Another shopper wrote on Facebook: “Having our last meal at IKEA Tottenham before it closes tomorrow. I’m sad!”
The store held a ‘farewell festival’ across July and August in which offers were made across a number of products only in-store.
Throughout the summer months it offered ridiculous prices on food, including £1 meatballs on Fridays and a hot drink and cake for 90p for Ikea Family customers.
Today is IKEA Tottenham's last day and damn is it just dead... Not much left and all that. pic.twitter.com/O3SU08QkRW
— Hikari (@HikariSnep) August 31, 2022
According to the Guardian, the Swedish retailer said it was closing the superstore in order to keep up with “changing shopping behaviours”, given that more than half of its sales are now made online.
It has pledged to redeploy as many of the store’s 450 employees as possible.
