Business as usual for IKEA after flooding

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This article was published 21/06/2013 (4690 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg’s IKEA store opened today as usual at 9:30 a.m. with minimal water damage despite a store evacuation Thursday night after a sudden downpour overwhelmed storm drainage in southwest Winnipeg.

The deluge of rain resulted in about an inch of water covering the floor of the main level and customers were evacuated around 8 p.m. without incident.

“Everybody worked furiously until about 3 o’clock in the morning moving product. We’re really lucky that things are on pallets and that we have cement flooring,” said Madeleine Löwenborg-Frick, public relations manager for IKEA Canada, in a telephone interview from Toronto. “Because everything is on pallets, things were raised so the damage is extremely limited which is fantastic for us.”

The restaurant and upstairs showroom opened as usual at 9:30 a.m.

Stephen Bobko, the Winnipeg store manager, said it will be business as usual for the day, although the Market Hall area will open a bit later at 11 a.m. while the store catches up on its deliveries for the day.

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca