IKEA today opened the doors of its first pop-up store in Northern Ireland, at The Boulevard in Banbridge. Located in one of Northern Ireland’s premier outlet shopping destinations, the 250 sqm pop-up store reflects IKEA’s strategy to bring the brand closer to where people live, work, and shop – designed for convenience and accessibility, it will remain open until spring 2026, serving as a hub for personalised planning services, home furnishing inspiration and online order pickup.
The opening event was marked by a ribbon cutting by Michaela Quinlan, market manager, IKEA Belfast, alongside IKEA staff who welcomed the first customers through the doors.
The pop up offers a selection of 150 furnishing accessories available for immediate takeaway, spanning kitchen, bedroom and living room essentials. It features a fully branded Collect Near You point, allowing customers to drop in and pick up their online orders, complementing IKEA’s existing locations in Ballymena, Limavady and Dungannon.
Michaela says: “We are thrilled to open IKEA’s first pop-up in Northern Ireland, and it’s been fantastic to welcome inside our first customers. Located in a busy retail outlet, this pop-up store is designed to make it easier than ever for customers in the surrounding areas to conveniently drop in and shop with us.
“The new store offers inspiring and affordable home solutions, and our Collect Near You point means customers can access our full product range online and collect their orders close to home. We’ve had such a warm response from our first visitors today, and we look forward to welcoming even more customers in the coming weeks."
Located along the A1 corridor between Belfast and Dublin, The Boulevard generates significant annual footfall.
Alastair Coulson, MD at Lotus Property (owner of The Boulevard), says: “We are thrilled to see IKEA officially open its doors at The Boulevard, as part of its first pop-up initiative in Northern Ireland. To become home to so many brands' ‘first’ or ‘only’ location is a huge testament to the scheme and our loyal customer base. The arrival of the global home furnishings brand is incredibly exciting as we ramp up for Christmas, and we would like to wish IKEA the best of luck with their new store and look forward to welcoming on-site both new and existing customers from across the region.”
