Ikea - my new favorite store
In October, an Ikea opened about 5 miles from me. For the first month or two, I didn’t go near the place because the traffic was ridiculous. There were 1 - 2 hour waits just to get in the parking lot.
The furor died down by Christmas, and I convinced my husband it was time to check it out. We headed over there on a Saturday afternoon (mistake), and after finding a back way into the parking lot, we were set!
If you have never been to an Ikea, it is quite an experience! This one is 2 stories tall and a few football fields in size. It is about 300,000 sq feet. Yes I did say 3 hundred thousand! When you enter, they give you a MAP! The catch is, there is only ONE WAY to go. You have to follow the winding arrows on the floor (and the crowds).
Our first visit was great! They have some very interesting, new designs and comparatively good prices. The store carries everything from furniture of all kinds, to flooring, to batteries. They even have food! I think the only thing you can’t find in an Ikea is clothing.
My teenage son was hankering for a room re-do, so we spied a few things and ideas and brought home all the catalogs, brochures and specs. By New Years, he had a new room.
I have probably been back there at least 10 times by now, and I dragged my husband along a few of them. The problem with Ikea is that if you are only going for one or 2 things, you still have to spend HOURS winding your way through the store.
Now on weekends my husband shudders in fear of me mentioning the name Ikea!
Here is a great Ikea commercial I found that is not available in the US. It really portrays the whimsical nature of the store. Enjoy!