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BY DANIEL OTERO
IKEA is for shopping lovers or for those who enjoy their foods
IKEA
IKEA is one of those places which I go through it; however, it never goes through me. It was founded in 1943, Smaland, Sweden. I needed to explore and write about this experience, one I knew too little about here in Changsha, China.
WNIC
What I experienced on a late-lazy Saturday morning (16th November, 2024) before lunch was good. Let me tell you about it! As we cruised all the way from Xingsha District (Northeast of the City) to the Yanghu Wetland Park (洋湖湿地公园) Station, which is almost the extreme South of the 'Sha' (Changsha) metropolis.
LIVAT
It was an important moment to experience a lunch I wanted to do with my daughter for (the longest)--over two-years and it never seemed to be the right moment or have the time to get to this place.
IKEA
I mean, I have been to other restaurants closer to home; but I never visited an IKEA restaurant in this town. Therefore, this was my moment to experiment a visit with Mia, my daughter at its cafeteria-styled-restaurant.
WNIC
Joe, and his child, Olivia were with us. They came in tow, and we made it a beautiful family day.
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FUN
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First of all, to get to IKEA, it's on Line 3 (Light-green) of the Changsha Metro Service. Once a person arrives at the stop, they can easily walk to Exit 3 and it will place them right into the mall. Where they can find businesses which carter from the arts, to boxing, bakeries, restaurants, coffee shops and pet-stores.
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FAMILY
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Walking there, there is a wonder-lust for capitalism and commercialism gone crazy or out of control. Nonetheless, the way the mall was built, it is elegantly/beautifully decorated for all the desires/wants or senses to enjoy on a buying trip.
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FOOD
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For those shopaholics, it will certainly pull you in!
LIVAT
Before we reached IKEA, there were also boutiques, jewelry stands and make-up kiosks for the ladies or gentlemen to watch, enjoy and buy everything if they desired.
WNIC
IKEA is a Swedish concept which is always building in an avant-garde styled kind of way. It is ergonomic for all to visit and within the entrance, we already noticed the Swedish cafes and stores to purchase Swedish goods, such as my favourite: chocolate.
CSX
I have to say before I visited, I stereotyped the store as kind of expensive; however, it wasn't that way (at all) if your are in the comfortable lower or middle-class ranges.
IKEA
It's a store which seems affordable enough, and a store to buy art nouveau furniture for the home: showcasing from pillows, sheets, aromatherapy candles, 'put it together' (DIY - Do It Yourself) furniture and stuffed toys for the children.
LIVAT
After a quick tour, and our two kids running crazily around and wanting to buy, eat or play with everything; we entered confused/overwhelmed (as two-fathers would without their wives) the cafeteria-restaurant. The concept is basic, you take a small trolley/carriage. This is built in a way to carry several (three levels of) food trays.
WNIC
In my case, I first went with what my eyes on what I saw and attracted me food wise. Mia and I would have the spaghetti and sausage, mushroom soup, a chocolate mouse, a cheese cake with cranberry and nuts.
CSX
For drinks, Mia had the carrot-orange juice. I went for a Swedish beer (Norrland Guld - wasn't bad, just had a little bit of that after taste), and other than being constantly confused, it was a really good experience.
LIVAT
Easy on the entrance queue and exit for the payment. There, at the cashier we got a card to scratch it out, and it so happens that we scratched the card and won a toy monkey for Mia!
IKEA
Joe was to have the Swedish-vegan meatballs with mash and peas. Olivia had the chips and steak. They both were having water for that day. Joe mentioned or he thought the food was pretty good.
WNIC
About the food, it's my point of view that it was good enough, and yes, I can repeat the visit; because the experience is affordable enough to do so. With my kid and I, we spent 117 RMB. I suggest, if you want to splurge a little and don't want to break-the-bank, comfortably you can do it with 200 RMB. By the way, IKEA adapts to meat-as well as-veggie lovers, and that is a nice thing to contemplate.
CSX
As for the IKEA store, it wasn't my thing to be honest. Frankly, I did prefer the experience of the cafe, Swedish stores for food and cafeteria/restaurant. The IKEA store was for me like a confusing maze in ergonomic concepts.
IKEA
If you aren't a shopper like me, then possibly the 'international experience' of the food stores, cafe and cafeteria are your thing. I did it mostly to spend a family day with loved ones and friends.
WNIC
For those who love shopping for furniture and having fun in an affordable way, the store will possibly be your thing.
CSX
In any case, give it a go and please tell me (politely) what were your thoughts: whether it is worth it or not.
IKEA
The important thing for me on that particular day, other than the planning and finally getting there to complete my goal; was to share with food, and there isn't any other substitute for that!
Get there
Changsha
> The address to IKEA is the following: Number 253, Yuhang Road, Yuelu District, Changsha, Hunan. 长沙荟聚洋湖路253号 (岳麓区).
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