Ikea is under way in Red Hook

By Garett Sloane | gsloane@am-ny.com

7:19 PM EDT, May 7, 2008

Local media was given a walk through tour of the new IKEA located along the waterfront in Red Hook, Brooklyn. After much resistance from the local Brooklyn community the store has moved into the area and anticipates a grand opening date of June 18, 2008. Ikea store manager Mike Baker is from Toronto and has been living in Brooklyn for three years to prep the new store. (Dave Sanders / May 7, 2008)

Ikea Red Hook is almost open for business.

The idea incites delight in some and agony in others.

Who knew so much controversy could surround a Swedish furniture company with the community-minded motto "You Do a Little, We Do a Little and Together We Save a Lot"?

It's been about six years since Ikea proposed a store in Red Hook, throwing the community into a "bitter, bitter battle," said Lou Sones, a member of Community Board 6. The community was torn between jobs the store would create and the fear of disruption to the quiet neighborhood. Further, Ikea took over a gem of Red Hook: 22 acres along the Erie Basin with views of the Statue of Liberty and lower Manhattan.

"It's some of the most spectacular waterfront in all of New York," Sones said by phone yesterday. He voted against the Ikea and does not hide his opposition even still.

The manager at the new Ikea, Mike Baker, he's proud of the work his company's done in the neighborhood and the opportunities the store offers.

"The future of Red Hook is up and coming," he said. "What we've allowed is access to the waterfront that hasn't been accessible for decades. That in itself is hopeful for Red Hook."

A tour of the grounds yesterday revealed the sense of history at the once-working waterfront.

Part of the approval process required Ikea to preserve some of the site's maritime heritage: Four gantry cranes still stand; winches that were used for anchoring boats remain; chocks are inscribed with the names of old ships that visited. Lee Weintraub, who designed the waterfront, even tried to re-create the shadows of history: Sculptures cast criss-crossed patterns on the ground similar to the shadows ropes or masts might leave.

However, other landmarks are lost, like a dry dock used to fix ships and eight historic buildings that were torn down.

When the store opens June 18, up to 600 people will be working there, many from the area. Jovan Bennett, 20, of Flatbush, was in the store's cavernous warehouse yesterday where he works with inventory.

"Ikea here created a lot of jobs in the community," he said. "It's creating a lot of business for the community."

Joyce Richardson, 21, and Arlene Johnson, 19, both of Red Hook, work at the store, and they both said that in their circle people can't wait to get a glimpse of the new store.

"A lot of people ask: When's Ikea opening? When's Ikea opening?," Richardson said.

The two women are in the food service department, a key component at the store, where customers can eat Sweedish meatballs with a view of Lady Liberty out the window.

One Red Hook resident, Todd Jatras, won't even go to the Ikea for the furniture, but said he'll check out the Scandinavian delicacies.

But the graphic artist, 33, is not thrilled with "mellow" Red Hook's new neighbor: "My main concern is it's going to bring a lot of traffic," Jatras said over eggs at the Hope and Anchor. "Ikea's fine as long as it's in Long Island or New Jersey."