Swedish furniture and interior design giant IKEA announced on Tuesday it will partially resume its operations starting Wednesday, reinstating hundreds of its employees who have been put on unpaid leave.
The company claims that although it is able to fully reopen its five stores in Israel, the chain has chosen to only open the showrooms while leaving restaurants and children’s play areas closed.
In a press release, the company stated it would only sell "essential products" at this stage and that the departments that will operate are: kitchen appliances, lamps, food, kitchens, power tools, faucets, sinks, plumbing, mattresses, bath accessories, laundry and ironing products, electrical appliances, mobile phone accessories, batteries and utensils.
Products from departments that remain closed will be available for purchase through IKEA Israel's logistics company Shefa's website.
The company has recently relaunched its website, but many of the products on its catalog remain unavailable for purchase. Shipping costs for products purchased online have also been hiked, now starting from NIS 250.
IKEA Israel's branches in Netanya, Rishon Lezion, Kiryat Atta (near Haifa), Be'er Sheva, Eshtaol (near Beit Shemesh), as well as a space reserved for kitchens at the Tel Aviv port will operate Sunday-Wednesday 10am-7pm, Thursday 10am-10pm and Friday 9am-2pm.
IKEA Israel employed some 600 workers before the coronavirus outbreak.