New Yorkers: They’re Just Like Us!

Even people in hip, post-cool Brooklyn line up days in advance for IKEA openings:

The doors to Brooklyn’s new Ikea have yet to open, but the madness has begun.

Shoppers in Red Hook were plotting ways to get their hands on a bargain Friday after hearing thousands of dollars of free furniture would be up for grabs Monday morning.

“I’ll camp two days for a couch,” said student Kashmere Square, 20, when he found out the first 35 customers would receive a $699 sofa, and the next 100 will be rewarded with a $199 armchair.

“It’s cool. I’ll definitely be shopping there. I need a computer stand, a table and chairs.”

Michael Malgonada, 17, quickly called friends to work out how they would take turns to secure a spot at the front of the line.

“For a free sofa from Ikea? [I’ll] definitely [line up],” he said.

“If you have to be 21, I’ll bring somebody older. We’ll do shifts.”

Ikea’s doors officially swing open at 9 a.m. Wednesday, and giveaways will be handed out throughout the day at the 346,000-square-foot store on Beard St.

Annotation: “Ikea Riot” (Gridskipper, February 10, 2005); “Three die in Saudi shop stampede” (BBC, September 1, 2004)