I bought a basic bookshelf (dark "wood" or whatever, 2x8x8) 35 years ago, and it's been used and moved in various places, and it still exists somewhere in Houston, with some of my books still on it.
I went to Ikea one time and that was enough. I thought I wouldn't be able to escape that maze. I wanted to buy some of their meatballs just to try out, but was afraid I wouldn't be able to find the way out, so once I found the exit, I just left. I ended up buying 2 bookshelves and 2 whatchamacallit thingies to stuff storage bins in. Still use them and will continue using them for years. That being said, Nebraska Furniture Mart is even bigger, and Houston needs one of those. It's another monstrosity of a store, but one that is more open and you could live in because it has damn-near everything except groceries. Get on it, Mr. Buffett.
Can't remember the great furniture store (half price-ish) in north Austin. My brother bought stuff and I hauled it in the pickup, is all I remember.
There are cut throughs and you can go against traffic. At least the layout is consistent and they don’t move product around like Costco does. My wife and I play a drinking game there (without drinks)- drink for every couple fighting over a rug or light or whatever, chug for one of them crying.
all Ikeas have shortcuts throughout their stores. it's in and out if you know the store's layout and able to go go during a quiet period. you're not using the shortcuts in this situation.
Ikea will always hold a special place for me When my broke ass had to get my first place I was able to get a futon, guest seat, book shelf and table for under 200 bucks. Even Wal Mart couldn't beat their prices. Still own all 4 pieces almost 20 years later, although they've been demoted to less prominent places in my apartment hierarchy.
I went to Pier One just because it was so much closer to me. Outfitted my totally empty cheapass poverty "living room" for about $2-300, the buddies helped move things, then we got stoned and watched football. It was a good day.
Or, instead of staring at the floor and following it like a zombie, you could just look at the signs on the walls telling you where to go
Damn the cut throughs. If I need Google Maps to get out of a store, screw it. I don't even like going to the grocery store to buy milk. lol. Ikea was like a grocery store mentality on steroids - a bunch of people walking around not really needing much of anything but walking around trying to find something they "need". My biggest regret is not trying the meatballs. Of course the furniture I had shipped is still in use 11 years later - a couple of bookcases, a couple of desks/tables, etc. I even ordered again online from them a couple of years later for a couple of their Kallax shelf units (awesome for storage!), drawer unit and did an Ikea hack to make a cheap tv stand for my tv using one of their shelves ($2) and 4 metal legs (around $10). lol. For the second order, I didn't bother going in the store - just bought it online. My entire office/geek room is Ikea-made for the most part. Ikea hacks are some of the cheapest/coolest hacks out there - there are websites that cater to them.
I legitimately got claustrophobic last time I was there. I couldn't find the pathway out and was about 60 seconds away from just knocking down the partitions to find the natural light and exit...
I used to live in Omaha and Nebraska Furniture Mart is awesome, its huge and it's kind of like Gallery furniture without the Political BS and pushy salesman...............last time I was at Gallery the salesman were standing at the front door like a dam car lot and one of them followed me and said they cant help another customer until I left, I was like GTF away from me dude
I don't mind the salesmen. I do mind the politics. I bought a $$$ sectional from Mattress Mac following Harvey, but never again since Mac has gotten much more vocal about his politics.
Or leave a trail of breadcrumbs....hoping some fattie doesn't eat them until after you've left. The IKEA in Schaumberg (suburb of Chicago) is gi-normous. Three levels, I believe, although I was there more than 20 years ago, so I'm going off memory. I was thinking at the time, "The IKEA in Houston by comparison is cramped and smaller." We do still have an adjustable desk we bought at IKEA and it doesn't suck balls like the college-y pre-marriage IKEA desk I slapped together with j*zz snot and spit back when I was watching my money.
