Hubby Tony was off today for the Columbus Day holiday. Since most people had to work, we decided it would be a good day to check out the new St. Louis IKEA that opened a couple of weeks ago. Although we were wrong about the number of folks that had a vacation day (and the store was very busy) we still had fun.
When we arrived there were quite a few cars turning off the street into the parking lot, but there were people stationed along the road directing traffic to ensure that everything moved smoothly. From the parking lot we followed the crowd through the front door and up the escalator, where an associate was handing out store maps. Clutching our maps, we followed the signs and the arrows on the floor to make our way through the maze-like showroom, admiring the room displays (and trying to stay out of the way of all the other people who were doing the same thing).
At the end of the showroom area we stopped for a bathroom break. As we walked by the cafeteria we noticed the humongous lines of people waiting to get food and decided we were glad to have eaten lunch before we got there. We took the stairs down to the Marketplace and continued wandering, then scooted through the warehouse area.
Based on the crowded parking lot and the number of people in the store I had told Tony there was NO WAY we were going to buy anything today. However, when we got to the end and saw the checkout lines weren't too long we decided to go back and get a duvet cover we'd admired. Rather than completely backtracking we took one of the shortcuts to the textile department. Once we knew we were committed, we backtracked even further and picked up some sturdy-looking glass tumblers and a couple of do-dads, then returned to the checkout area.
The checkout line may have been relatively short, but the line for the cafe wasn't. We had spent about two hours in the store and were ready to leave, so we passed on the cinnamon rolls and followed yet another crowd to the exit. On the way out of the parking lot we decided our next trip could wait until the initial opening crowds had really died down.
Been forever since I've been to one of those maze-o-maze IKEA's. Never tried anything at the cafe though. But I did get lost in the cookery area and bedroom layouts.
ReplyDeleteIf there was any area I wanted to spend more time in it was the cooking section. I LOVE kitchen gadgets.
DeleteI tend to walk through the maze like a deer in the headlights. It does not help that everyone else is doing the same thing, stopping as a surprise to the rest of us walking along. ;)
ReplyDeleteWe're going back this weekend, I've nearly burned through all my candles already! ;) Plus I ate all my pepperkrakor.
Because it's a half hour away from the house I can't see making IKEA part of my regular shopping rotation, but it was fun to browse and see what they had.
DeleteIKEA will just get busier it is always busy, sort of like Costco.
ReplyDeleteI've figured out when to go (any weekday afternoon) and not to go (Sunday afternoon) to Costco.
DeleteI went to the Pittsburgh IKEA with my daughter, who knew exactly what she wanted and offered to let me stay in the car. As you said, the movement of the traffice was always forward, inlock step. Beth knew the department and kept cutting through displays to reach it, on the opposite side of the store from where we entered. I found it insane, exiting the flow of traffic to persue a display, and then reentering the flow to keep moving. Except for the novelty, I cannot fathom a reason for such a store layout.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many people bought something they didn't come in for because they were forced to walk by it?
DeleteAnd you can get your cinnamon rolls on the way in ;-) Do they let you do that? I’ve been to an Ikea twice (we don’t live close to one). I loved it. I do remember seeing the cafe line and saying never mind (because we were leaving).
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking there has to be a way to get straight to the cash register area where the cafe is. Maybe next time I'll try to look for it :-)
DeleteI'm going to wait until the New Year to check it out. We're planning on buying a new mattress next summer from them.
ReplyDeleteI think waiting until next year is a good idea.
DeleteI've never been to an IKEA store before, but have always heard good things about them.
ReplyDeleteYou're brave Kathy, I don't care much for the crowds at the Ikea stores and definitely steer clear on weekends, never mind a newly opened store. I like some of their products, which reminds me I would like to go and pick up more of their zip-lock bags, they are the best I've ever found anywhere... but I'll do this definitely during the week!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week, cheers!
Zip lock bags, huh? I'll have to look into those.
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