Although the gargantuan stores of IKEA can already be public museums themselves, the Swedish retailer is preparing for the official opening of the IKEA Museum on June 30 in their Älmhult stomping grounds. Originally expected to open last fall, the 7,000 square-meter museum will showcase the company's history and widespread influence that spans more than 70 years.

The four levels of the museum will show off iconic furniture pieces like the KLIPPAN sofa and the BILLY bookcase, some 20,000 objects from the IKEA archives, a rotating temporary exhibition area, and a gift shop. And since this is the IKEA Museum, there will be a 170-seat restaurant simply called The Kitchen (or Köket) — which will most likely serve those infamous IKEA meatballs, but “with a new modern take”! 

The museum will also have a new educational department called The IKEA Museum School Programme that will offer guided tours (in Swedish, English, and German) and workshops related to topics on entrepreneurship, technology and design, and history and society.

All photos © Inter IKEA Systems B.V. 2016

Find more images in the gallery below. Want to plan a visit? You can learn more about the IKEA Museum here.

h/t Paste Magazine