For years, Oklahomans made the drive to Texas, Kansas or Arkansas to shop at IKEA. Starting today, they won't have to.IKEA is officially opening its first-ever Oklahoma store at Tulsa Hills Shopping Center, near 71st Street and Highway 75.The new store features thousands of home furnishing products, showrooms designed to inspire customers and experts who can help plan everything from a single room to an entire home makeover. Customers can shop thousands of items in person, take many products home the same day or have larger purchases delivered.Hundreds of people waited in line, with some arriving as early as 3 a.m. 7 hours before the store opened. Jake Landry was the first person in line."We got here at 3 and the next folks showed up at like 4, 4:30," Landry said.Not everyone was willing to lose sleep over the opening."I mean at midnight, when I was still up, I thought about it and I was like, no, I'm going to bed," Charity Page said.The size of the crowd surprised some of those waiting. I asked Kimberly Hutton, who was waiting around the side of the building, whether she expected this many people to come out."I did not. I thought since it was a weekday maybe 2 or 300. It looks like it's about 4 or 500 hundred today," Hutton said.Landry said the new location saves Oklahomans a long drive and pushes back on misconceptions about the brand."I think it's really cool. We used to have to drive 4 or 5 hours to Kansas City or Dallas to have the same experience and get the same products. And I think there is a stereotype about IKEA furniture being kind of low quality or janky, but the reality of it is really affordable home furnishings for a lot of people," Landry said.For Page, the new store brings a familiar experience closer to home."I'm excited to have one here. I've been to the one in Indianapolis and I love it. It's exciting to have it here in Tulsa," Page said.IKEA leaders say the goal is to make their affordable home furnishings more accessible to families across the region."I think it's a great option, especially for young homeowners. It's more affordable housing things for them to get as opposed to other options here in town. It's gonna be much easier for them to get their new home set up and everything," said Debbie Robinson, a Tulsa resident.To mark the grand opening, IKEA is making a $10,000 donation to Family and Children's Services in Tulsa. Opening day celebrations included giveaways, coffee and treats for customers.This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy. This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy. ...read more read less