Photo Galleries

(01/06/09) The entrance to Charlottes IKEA store can be seen from the second level near the showrooms. IKEA workers from across the country are building shelves, moving furniture arranging showrooms and generally prepping the soon-to-be-opened IKEA store off City Blvd in northeast Charlotte. JOHN D. SIMMONS - jsimmons@charlotteobserver.com

(01/06/09) A palette of product is hoisted onto an upper shelf in the warehouse area of Charlotte's IKEA store. IKEA workers from across the country are building shelves, moving furniture arranging showrooms and generally prepping the soon-to-be-opened IKEA store off City Blvd in northeast Charlotte. JOHN D. SIMMONS - jsimmons@charlotteobserver.com

(01/06/09) Barbara Philemon (left at end of table) and Jared Moon (right) assemble a coffee table Tuesday at Charlotte's IKEA store .Philemon will be a greeter in the store and Moon will work in furniture pickup. IKEA workers from across the country are building shelves, moving furniture arranging showrooms and generally prepping the soon-to-be-opened IKEA store off City Blvd in northeast Charlotte. JOHN D. SIMMONS - jsimmons@charlotteobserver.com

(01/06/09) IKEA workers from across the country are building shelves, moving furniture arranging showrooms and generally prepping the soon-to-be-opened IKEA store off City Blvd in northeast Charlotte. JOHN D. SIMMONS - jsimmons@charlotteobserver.com

(01/06/09) Richard Castanon, who has helped set up and start six IKEA stores around the country, will stay in Charlotte to manage his latest start up. IKEA workers from across the country are building shelves, moving furniture arranging showrooms and generally prepping the soon-to-be-opened IKEA store off City Blvd in northeast Charlotte. JOHN D. SIMMONS - jsimmons@charlotteobserver.com

(01/06/09) Mitch Carver, a painter with Charlotte Paint Company, paints the walls near the top of the escalator at the beginning of the showroom area in Charlotte's IKEA store. How do you shop the giant IKEA store when it opens in February? It's about 356,000 sq. ft. on multiple levels and if you follow the gray walkway it'll take you through the store. JOHN D. SIMMONS - jsimmons@charlotteobserver.com

(01/06/09) (from left) Michelle Bender, Bill Maddrey and Jessica Blythe assemble a children's bed called the Mammot bed at the Charlotte IKEA store. How do you shop the giant IKEA store when it opens in February? It's about 356,000 sq. ft. on multiple levels and if you follow the gray walkway it'll take you through the store. JOHN D. SIMMONS - jsimmons@charlotteobserver

(01/06/09) Bins of pillows in navy, red, olive green and off white are piled high at the IKEA store in Charlotte. How do you shop the giant IKEA store when it opens in February? It's about 356,000 sq. ft. on multiple levels and if you follow the gray walkway it'll take you through the store. JOHN D. SIMMONS - jsimmons@charlotteobserver.com

(01/06/09) Woven chairs are on display at the IKEA store in Charlotte. How do you shop the giant IKEA store when it opens in February? It's about 356,000 sq. ft. on multiple levels and if you follow the gray walkway it'll take you through the store. JOHN D. SIMMONS - jsimmons@charlotteobserver.com

(01/06/09) (from left) Lynne Payne, the department manager of living room furniture and media storage checks with Farren Ventrulli-Kady, who coordinates store supply for IKEA start ups like Charlotte's store. How do you shop the giant IKEA store when it opens in February? It's about 356,000 sq. ft. on multiple levels and if you follow the gray walkway it'll take you through the store. JOHN D. SIMMONS - jsimmons@charlotteobserver.com

(01/06/09) Curtis Parker, who works in visual merchandising for IKEA's Atlanta store, is in Charlotte helping set up areas like the arm chair display. How do you shop the giant IKEA store when it opens in February? It's about 356,000 sq. ft. on multiple levels and if you follow the gray walkway it'll take you through the store. JOHN D. SIMMONS - jsimmons@charlotteobserver.com

(01/06/09) Tea pots line a shelf in the kitchenware area of Charlotte's IKEA store. How do you shop the giant IKEA store when it opens in February? It's about 356,000 sq. ft. on multiple levels and if you follow the gray walkway it'll take you through the store. JOHN D. SIMMONS - jsimmons@charlotteobserver.com

(01/06/09) Workers prepare the entrance area at Charlotte's IKEA store. How do you shop the giant IKEA store when it opens in February? It's about 356,000 sq. ft. on multiple levels and if you follow the gray walkway it'll take you through the store. JOHN D. SIMMONS - jsimmons@charlotteobserver.com

(01/06/09) (from left) Rayna Bullard and Natalie Webster, both IKEA interior designers decide on furniture arrangement in a living room at Charlotte's IKEA store. How do you shop the giant IKEA store when it opens in February? It's about 356,000 sq. ft. on multiple levels and if you follow the gray walkway it'll take you through the store. JOHN D. SIMMONS - jsimmons@charlotteobserver.com

(01/06/09) IKEA workers driving forklifts zoom to and from the shelves in the warehouse at Charlotte's IKEA store. How do you shop the giant IKEA store when it opens in February? It's about 356,000 sq. ft. on multiple levels and if you follow the gray walkway it'll take you through the store. JOHN D. SIMMONS - jsimmons@charlotteobserver.com