Cruel Prank Leads Maine Residents to Believe They Were Getting an Ikea

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The city of Portland, Maine has a prankster on their hands who still hasn't realized that sometimes jokes can go too far. Consumerist notes that Portland residents thought the holidays had brought them a new Ikea when a sign announcing a store from the Swedish furniture giant appeared in front of an empty lot. However, it turns out it was all just an elaborate ruse as both the city and retailer maintain that there are no plans for affordably-priced home goods and meatballs to make their way to Maine anytime soon, according to the Portland Press Herald.

"We currently do not have plans to open a store in Portland, Maine," IKEA Public Affairs Manager Joseph Roth tells the Press Herald. The outlet also notes that the 2.5-acre lot wouldn't be close to big enough to support the 25 to 35 acres an Ikea requires.

This didn't stop some city residents from getting their hopes up after they saw the sign. "My husband and I were giving each other confused glances — like — did you just see that too? It looked so official!" city resident Jenna Isaacson Pfueller tells the Portland Press Herald. "May whoever did this be pelted with a thousand Swedish meatballs."

Mystery sign says @IKEA coming to Portland #Maine - but it isn't #IKEA https://t.co/603tkGX64O pic.twitter.com/nILSq8e2q3

— PressHerald (@PressHerald) December 28, 2015