How to camp out in the wilds of Ikea

Get out your camping gear. We can finally begin hunting for Swedish housewares next week at the new Tampa Ikea store on Adamo Drive.

Per tradition, the store will allow customers to begin lining up at 9 a.m. on Monday in advance of its official opening on Wednesday. The early campers will be rewarded with entertainment and free gifts.

The Swedes are not too keen on stampedes, so the store cautioned in a statement that "you do not have to be the first, second, or third customer in line in order to share in the fun."

Off-duty police have been hired for security and there will be portable potties, but leave your grills at home.

When the company opened its first Orlando store in 2007, several off-duty Orlando police officers were hired to keep watch on the dozens of eager bedding buyers who started lining up four days early. By opening day, hundreds mobbed the opening and only added to a circus atmosphere filled with Ikea's own jugglers, trampoline artists and a Swedish chef handing out meatballs.

An army of TV satellite trucks and news helicopters at the Orlando opening in November 2007 noted that the first 100 adults received a free Poang armchair valued at $89.99; and the first 100 children at the grand opening received a free Famnig heart-shaped soft toy valued at $9.99. They are offering that same deal to the first 100 Tampa campers, and the first 2,500 customers will be given random gifts ranging from restaurant freebies to $250 gift cards.

Oh, dear, did someone say free stuff?