Cyprus News

2nd September 2007
 

IKEA is known for its cheap, contemporary designs and home solutions; so much so, that it’s also known for the massive public interest it provokes and the resulting crowds and traffic chaos it can cause.

Due to its phenomenal international brand reputation, demand is always sky-high, especially during grand openings.

This Thursday is the day when the island’s first IKEA superstore opens its doors to the public, with the company saying they have put measures in place to deal with the high number of shoppers expected.

When asked how prepared they really are, a statement from the company said: “We have special traffic management measures in place, as well as support from Greece.

We will do our best and believe that with our products, service and smile, we will ensure a pleasurable experience for shoppers.”

The company explained that the store can hold 4,000 people. “When capacity is reached, we will stop further customers from coming in and when people start exiting the checkouts, new visitors will be allowed to enter.”

Police headquarters said the force, “will be putting into place measures to make it easier for the public. Officers will be on site to ensure that traffic flows smoothly to and from IKEA and along the length of the old Nicosia-Limassol road and the ring road next to the hospital, as well as along several routes leading to and from the store.”

They added that cones would be put onto pavements to stop people from parking illegally.

Of course, all mayors want big projects to be established within their municipalities as these create jobs and bring in funds.

Savvas Iliofotou is the Mayor of Strovolos and he said the municipality was well aware that there would be a traffic problem once the ‘Mall of Cyprus’, which includes IKEA, opens.

“As a Municipality, there is nothing we can do about it unfortunately as the responsibility falls with the Public Works Department of the Communication and Works Ministry,” he said.

Demos Demosthenous is a civil engineer with the Department and he explained that up to three million pounds have been set aside to improve traffic circulation in the area.

“We have already made some roads two-way instead of one-way and are working on several other ideas,” he said.

“The Department is in consultation with both Strovolos and Latsia Municipalities, along with Town Planning and the police, and we have plans for the construction of an interchange and a flyover, as well as the expansion of several roundabouts in the area.”

He urged the public to be patient, saying the improvements would be made, “as soon as possible.”

Let’s hope the measures work, as Cyprus wouldn’t want a repeat of the mayhem which has surrounded the opening of several IKEA stores around the world.

In February 2005, safety fears forced a North London store to shut 30 minutes after it opened. Several people were hurt in a crush as a crowd of thousands forced the IKEA superstore to close on its opening night. Cars were abandoned on the roadside and customers were caught in the chaos which ensued after the midnight launch. The new outlet in Edmonton was due to trade for a full 24 hours, but shut up shop within half an hour after an “unforeseen volume of customers” descended in the early hours.

When an IKEA opened in April 2000 in Emeryville, California, the traffic was so severe that traffic lights had no effect and the local police were forced to direct traffic manually for three months.

In Tempe, Arizona, the nearest off-ramp to the store was closed off by police because of severe traffic and some people attempted to park their cars on the Interstate and hop the fence.

Vassilis Fourlis, President of the operator of the furniture franchise that already has two IKEA stores in Greece, will be in Cyprus for the inauguration of the 22,000 square metre store strategically located within the ‘Mall of Cyprus’ at the Shacolas Emporium Park that will include retail stores, clothing shops and food outlets.

The Park, which itself opens on September 27, has car parking space for 2,500 vehicles, with 800 set aside for IKEA.

IKEA Cyprus is expected to generate annual sales of 40 to 50 million euros, Vassilis Fourlis told Reuters in an interview last October.

The IKEA opening is regarded as a welcome move in Cyprus, after the Habitat franchise in Nicosia closed unceremoniously last December due to troubles at the Greek franchise operations.

Valentina Ioannou, who has been a Latsia resident for five years, said that traffic congestion in the area has greatly increased since the opening of the new General Hospital last autumn and she expects it to only get worse.

“Before the hospital opened, there was nothing in the area to attract people, apart from the Super Home Centre,” the 26-year-old explained. “Once the hospital opened, I noticed that traffic coming into Latsia from Nicosia had significantly increased and I dread to think what it will be like once IKEA opens. To make matters worse, the road approaching the hospital and the store is one-way, meaning drivers need to go all the way to the roundabout and then come back on themselves.”
 

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