First small IKEA opening in Texas. Will it replace Buc-ee's as the next roadside icon?

Mini Buc-ee’s, Mini Prada, Mini Target — is Mini IKEA next? Well, kind of.

Texas is getting its first small-format store from the Swedish home goods giant. The new location is a first-of-its-kind “city store,” coming in at just a fraction of the size of its traditional warehouses.

It’s not quite the kind of tiny store you'd spot as a roadside attraction in West Texas — but by IKEA standards, it’s small. At less than 10% the size of a typical flagship, this store marks a big shift in a compact package — but thankfully, the meatballs made the cuts.

The new small-format stores are different from concepts like the one that opened in the Domain in Austin last summer, which does not sell products but offers personalized planning support from experts.

Where is the new small-format IKEA store opening?

The new small-format IKEA will open in the San Mar Plaza shopping center at 917 SH-80 North in San Marcos. Positioned between San Antonio and Austin, the location aims to bring the IKEA experience closer to both metro areas. It will be the ninth IKEA store in Texas and is easily accessible from SH-80 and visible from I-35.

When is the small IKEA opening?

IKEA San Marcos will open on July 16. The grand opening begins at 9 a.m. with exclusive giveaways of products, gift cards and more.

Customers can begin lining up at 7 a.m. for the grand opening ceremony, which precedes the store's 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. opening day schedule. Its regular store hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

How small is the new IKEA?

At just under 35,000 square feet, IKEA San Marcos is a fraction of the size of a typical IKEA, which usually spans 300,000 to 450,000 square feet. The new store is designed as a “city store,” with curated showrooms and product offerings tailored to the everyday needs of the San Marcos community.

It will feature more than 2,500 products on display, with about 2,000 available for immediate purchase, plus a small selection from the Swedish Food Market.

The entire IKEA product range will still be available online with options for free store pickup or home delivery with a fee, according to a news release from the company.

Is Texas getting any more small IKEA stores?

Texas is set to receive more small-format IKEA stores beyond San Marcos.

• Dallas (The Shops at Park Lane, University Park): A two-level, 63,000-square-foot store is scheduled to open in late 2025. It will be a compact urban model with more than 2,200 display items and over 3,000 furnishings for same-day pickup, plus food options.
• Rockwall (DFW metro area): A 108,000-square-foot small-format store is planned for early 2026. Located off I-30, it will feature room setups, a Swedish deli, sustainability features and a curated product assortment.
• Rio Grande Valley (Pharr): IKEA Rio Grande Valley is launching in fall 2025 at Pharr Town Center. The 44,000-square-foot store will offer about 1,600 items for takeaway, ship-to-store or home delivery, and hot and cold food from its Swedish Bite concept.