We have a new IKEA store opening on Wednesday about 20 miles from my house (in Michigan) and people have been camped out since yesterday. What kind of store is it and what is so special about it? I don't want to miss out on anything.

By Mrsheidi on Monday, June 5, 2006 - 01:57 pm:

Cheap stuff that looks good. Connor's play table is and Ikea table. It's so much fun to shop there. Plus, they have child care while you shop! Connor's not old enough, or tall enough, but I thought it would be neat!

By Hlgmom on Monday, June 5, 2006 - 02:07 pm:

They have very cool furniture-you put alot of it together yourself- inexoensive and very cool! Definetely worth a trip! You can check out their website!

By Yjja123 on Monday, June 5, 2006 - 02:51 pm:

If you are looking for short term furniture, Ikea is OK. It is particle board (not real wood) furniture that you assemble. I have family/friends who purchased Ikea items and none of them were happy with them after a few years.
Personally, I would save my $ and buy quality furniture.

By Bellajoe on Monday, June 5, 2006 - 04:04 pm:

We have a IKEA coffee table and t.v. stand. They look very nice and are wood. We did have to put it together ourselves. But we are still happy with them.

Some of the stuff they have is a bit....funky for me. But other stuff is pretty cool. They have things from lamps to kitchen stuff, to bedroom furniture to toys etc. It's a HUGE store and it's loads of fun to walk through.
Why are people camping out? I have no idea.

By Ginny~moderator on Monday, June 5, 2006 - 04:45 pm:

They have an on-line catalog - check it out. I agree, some of the stuff is particle board, and doesn't wear well, but a lot is solid wood, painted or stained, and does last. And they have a lot of housewares - dishes, glasses, cookware, utensils, candles, etc., etc., and linens. Some of it is a bit funky for me, too, but a lot of it I like. You want to watch for the twice a year sales - July and January, I think - which are really, really sales.

By Unschoolmom on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 06:49 am:

The key is looking for the stuff that's not particle board. We bought bunk beds online (no local store)from them and a mattress. Even with taxes and shipping it was about $100 cheaper than the cheapest bunk bed locally. And it was solid wood and very sturdy.

I would love one of their sofas. A lot of them arne't traditionally upholstered and you can simply slip the fabric off to stick in the washing machine.

By Bemerry84 on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 03:12 pm:

I just checked out a flyer I got in the mail. Looks interesting but very modern. I guess they are giving away mystery certificates to the first 500 people, so that explains the camping out. I hope we get the July sale even though it's just opening. Thanks for the info.