Neither of those stores - or even Wal-Mart's Supercenters - come close to the size and scope of the IKEA's 30th U.S. store in Draper, set to open Wednesday.

The Swedish furniture retailer is redefining the retail concept of big in Utah with the 310,000 square foot store, at the northwestern corner of I-15 and Bangerter Highway. The massive store - Utah's first - has 51 room settings, three model homes and no less than three food outlets, including a 300-seat restaurant.

Known for its chic, yet affordable, line of home furnishings, the store carries nearly every type of home furnishing and accessory, including kitchen appliances. While some of IKEA's merchandise can be expensive - think leather sofas or granite countertops - there's plenty to draw bargain hunters and dollar-store aficionados.

How about a $19.99 bookshelf, a $5.99 tool set or a $2.99 wall clock? There are stacks of 99-cent computer mouse pads and plenty of 49-cent dish towels. The lowest priced item: a pale green pet food bowl for 25 cents.

"The No. 1 misconception about IKEA is that all we're about is furniture," said IKEA spokesman Joseph Roth. "But half our store is accessories."

IKEA stores compete with a wide range of big-box stores - Home Depot and Lowe's especially in terms of flooring, kitchen countertops and appliances. In the field of home accessories, IKEA will go head to head with Bed, Bath and Beyond and similar stores. It will compete against well-known giant R.C. Willey in home furnishings.

"They are going to take some business from everybody," acknowledged Scott Hymas, R.C. Willey chief executive officer.

R.C. Willey has been running ads saying its assembled furniture is a better choice than unassembled furniture. IKEA sells unassembled furniture, which can be delivered or assembled for an extra fee.

Are the R.C. Willey ads directed at IKEA? Not really, Hymas said. He said R.C. Willey, which focuses on furniture, electronics, and appliances, already has a record of competing against the company in Sacramento, Calif.

Both R.C. Willey and IKEA offer financing to customers as a way to generate sales.

IKEA over the past two years has rolled out its own branded credit card. Just like at R.C. Willey, customers in Utah will be able to apply for credit on the spot and if approved, take home their purchases the same day.

Apart from its size, IKEA differs from its competitors in another important way - its food.

There are several food options inside the Draper store, one of several ways the IKEA undoubtedly increases the amount of time customers spend in the store. You can get two hot dogs, chips and a soft drink for $2.50. A shrimp salad for $3.99. Or a big plate of Swedish meatballs for less than $6. There is fast-food, comfort food, shelf stable food and ready-made food to take for a meal at home.

IKEA encourages its customers to bring their kids with several food options aimed at youngsters. But not to deter parents from shopping - and spending - IKEA has a quite large children's activity area where shoppers can leave their potty-trained children who meet certain size criteria. Kids' activity stations are also scattered throughout the store.

With such keen interest in the new store, Draper has spent much of the past year preparing for IKEA's opening day. Neither IKEA nor Draper would provide an estimate of how many people the company is anticipating will show up the first day. Draper said only that it is excepting a crowd in the "high thousands."

Draper officials, including its economic development director, the city's traffic engineer and representatives from police, fire and highway patrol departments, traveled in June of last year to Canton, Mich., to experience an IKEA grand opening firsthand.

From opening day through Memorial Day, there will be no less than 35 police officers at the store to make sure things run smoothly, said David Baird, Draper City economic development director.

While the first six days are expected be very busy, Baird of Draper said he is expecting a high level of customers for weeks - even months - after that.

"We'll have some pretty intense traffic in the area for at least six weeks," he said. "And on weekends for quite a while."