BUSINESS Swedish retailer IKEA opens shop in...

BUSINESS

Swedish retailer IKEA opens shop in Costa Mesa

America’s favorite Sweden’s furnishings retailer is now calling

Costa Mesa home.

IKEA Orange County Costa Mesa opened Wednesday with much ballyhoo,

which included an appearance by celebrity Joan Rivers, 25 couples

renewing their wedding vows, a traditional Swedish log-sawing

ceremony, live music and, of course, shopping.

The store, which relocated from Tustin to its high-profile

location off the San Diego Freeway, is 308,000 square feet and boats

some 9,000 products.

Swarms of shoppers descended onto the store Wednesday morning.

Dave Burnell of Costa Mesa was the first customer.

Homeowners received good news, on Tuesday, when a regional real

estate trade group announced that the mid-level Orange County home

had reached $448,410 in April, a whopping 20.6% increase from the

prior year.

Low interest rates, sparse housing stock and desirable locations

helped drive Costa Mesa and Newport Beach home values higher, as

well.

* PAUL CLINTON covers the environment, business and politics. He

may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at

paul.clinton@latimes.com.