Quick facts about Charlotte's Ikea

Location: 8300 Ikea Boulevard, Charlotte. (In the University City area)

Directions from Salisbury: Take I-85 south. Exit at City Boulevard (Exit 43). Make a left onto City Boulevard, then another left onto Ikea Boulevard. Proceed straight, making left into parking lot.

Size: 356,000 square feet on 25 acres.

Workforce: More than 400 employees.

Features: 10,000 exclusively designed home furnishings, 350-seat Ikea restaurant, 49 room settings, three model home interiors, supervised children's play area.

Conveniences: Measuring tape, pencils, store maps, yellow shopping bags and three types of shopping carts.

Grand opening: Wednesday, Feb. 18. Hours on grand opening day, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

Giveaways: The first 100 adults (18 and over) in line at the Ikea grand opening will receive a free Poang Scandinavian armchair.

- The first 2,500 people on Feb. 18 will receive a random prize envelope with Ikea gift cards ranging from $10 to $250, or a "Buy One, Get One Free" cinnamon bun, hot dog or frozen yogurt voucher.

- Visitors who bring proof that Feb. 18 is their birthday will receive a $10 gift card.

- The first 100 children (under 18) at the grand opening will receive a free Famning heart-shaped cushion.

- From Feb. 18-22, Ikea visitors may enter a drawing to win one of 10 $1,000 Ikea gift cards

Regular store hours: Beginning Thursday, Feb. 19, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday.

Restaurant hours: Beginning Feb. 19, 9:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Sunday.

Background: Ikea Charlotte is the 36th Ikea in the U.S. Canada has 11 Ikeas. There are 294 Ikeas in 36 countries worldwide.