Ikea : Ottawa's new store [Food/Vendor]
2011 Dec 6
One month? Optimist. I remember when it opened, and was the ONLY Ikea in Canada - across from the then-only Lee Valley store. I heard of people from southern NY state who made pilgrimages to this DIY-holy intersection.
I believe it took six months before the crowds were less than jam-packed.
Things aren't that dire for availability, so I expect two months this time.
I believe it took six months before the crowds were less than jam-packed.
Things aren't that dire for availability, so I expect two months this time.
2011 Dec 6
I couldn't go for a month because school was starting, now this! Okay, it isn't like I'm in a big rush to pick up some painted MDF for anything, but I do love the cheap hot dogs.
The building inspector did his final visit last week and said that the building should remain sturdy as long as it isn't moved or disassembled.
I always have pity on the poor guys who have to BUILD these stores. They've got hundreds of boxes and some pictorial instructions without any words and a bunch of Allen wrenches.
The building inspector did his final visit last week and said that the building should remain sturdy as long as it isn't moved or disassembled.
I always have pity on the poor guys who have to BUILD these stores. They've got hundreds of boxes and some pictorial instructions without any words and a bunch of Allen wrenches.
2011 Dec 6
I remember when the first Ikea was in Bells Corners,,, but I don't recall Lee Valley ever being in Bells Corners... Was it there at some point?? How did I miss that?
I do remember the first Lee Valley store (I think it was the first that wasn't in Mr. Lee's basement anyway) which is now their Veritas Tools building over on Morrison Road. It was an itty-bitty place compared to what they have now. I still remember buying my mom a shovel and a 'salad-in-a-can' there for her birthday.
I do remember the first Lee Valley store (I think it was the first that wasn't in Mr. Lee's basement anyway) which is now their Veritas Tools building over on Morrison Road. It was an itty-bitty place compared to what they have now. I still remember buying my mom a shovel and a 'salad-in-a-can' there for her birthday.
2011 Dec 7
AND ... I hope the new store layout is NOT a rat maze like the last store. With the new size, it will take me hours to find the exit (before i discover the short-cuts).
-------------------SNIP--------------------
"MISSING MAN DISCOVERED IN NEW IKEA STORE"
OTTAWA CITIZEN
December 16, 2011
After a two day search, Ottawa Police Constable James O'Grady reports that the previously reported missing Captain Caper has been found lost in the bowels of the new Ikea store. The new gigantic 1,000,000 sq.ft. store is located near Greenbank Rd. and the Queensway. Although somewhat dazed and confused, The Captain is reported to be in good health after living on a diet of Swedish Meatballs and Lingonberry Jam.
Police had to further help The Captain locate his car in the packed parking lot. This only took one half hour.
------------------SNIP---------------------
2011 Dec 7
Went today. apparently the crowds were MUCH less than expected. No shortage of parking and at 3pm it felt much less crowded than any time I was at the former location, perhaps because of its immensity. Checked out the new dining facility and so far, no beer or wine that we could find, and it wasn't full service; Same cafeteria style food service, same menu just a lot larger than the old location. Maybe liquor and full service will come later.
2011 Dec 10
I shopped at the new IKEA on Friday to pick up a Billy bookcase. Because you can't have too many of them. The parking will take some getting used to, meaning the people looking for that immaculate spot will cause some headaches.
As I entered I felt like I walked into an empty home depot. Staff were handing out maps of the place. I immediately took one and headed up the escalator. I figured I would grab a bite first.
Restaurant area is probably three times the size of old restaurant. It was a bit confusing, but found the lunch line. Ordered meatballs. Same as always. Went to pay and realized I, and many others, missed the glass for drinks. Right after the trays. Remember this! I also missed the napkins and utensils located behind the cashiers.
They now offer a lounge area with sofas. Probably for mothers, probably for the future beer drinkers.
After my "meal" I headed down to the second floor to search for the warehouse area. The map I had helped me look like a tourist in NYC. So I just followed the flow and looked for something resembling shortcuts. With a gleam in my eyes I found the area! Looked around, grabbed my items, actually walked through the as-is with my cart WITH room to maneuver!
As I took my time to decide on another item, they announced Debit and Credit were down. Well, credit up to $300. So I decided to head over and patiently wait in line were staff handed out chocolates and candies for the eerily calm customers. I played angry birds while in line.
I now realize it was a good thing a lady had cut in front of me in line earlier. Because as I was next to pay, the debit machines were back up! Yes!
As I was leaving I noticed the entrance was just to the right. Next time I will do as I always did and cut through the cashiers straight through to the as-is. The hot dog bistro is also near the cashiers. Between the enterance and exit. They have plenty of elevators and lots of space inside, but a tad slow.
My final obstacle was to find the van driving a flatbed cart through the oncoming traffic in the parking lot. With a bad foot. I did get lost a bit, but found the van. And I guess people don't find joy in helping others loading boxes into vehicles like I do. Well, I usually assume two guys can manage, but I tend to lend a hand to everyone else. You know, "pay it forward".
Well, that was my IKEA experience. Overall, same IKEA, higher ceilings
As I entered I felt like I walked into an empty home depot. Staff were handing out maps of the place. I immediately took one and headed up the escalator. I figured I would grab a bite first.
Restaurant area is probably three times the size of old restaurant. It was a bit confusing, but found the lunch line. Ordered meatballs. Same as always. Went to pay and realized I, and many others, missed the glass for drinks. Right after the trays. Remember this! I also missed the napkins and utensils located behind the cashiers.
They now offer a lounge area with sofas. Probably for mothers, probably for the future beer drinkers.
After my "meal" I headed down to the second floor to search for the warehouse area. The map I had helped me look like a tourist in NYC. So I just followed the flow and looked for something resembling shortcuts. With a gleam in my eyes I found the area! Looked around, grabbed my items, actually walked through the as-is with my cart WITH room to maneuver!
As I took my time to decide on another item, they announced Debit and Credit were down. Well, credit up to $300. So I decided to head over and patiently wait in line were staff handed out chocolates and candies for the eerily calm customers. I played angry birds while in line.
I now realize it was a good thing a lady had cut in front of me in line earlier. Because as I was next to pay, the debit machines were back up! Yes!
As I was leaving I noticed the entrance was just to the right. Next time I will do as I always did and cut through the cashiers straight through to the as-is. The hot dog bistro is also near the cashiers. Between the enterance and exit. They have plenty of elevators and lots of space inside, but a tad slow.
My final obstacle was to find the van driving a flatbed cart through the oncoming traffic in the parking lot. With a bad foot. I did get lost a bit, but found the van. And I guess people don't find joy in helping others loading boxes into vehicles like I do. Well, I usually assume two guys can manage, but I tend to lend a hand to everyone else. You know, "pay it forward".
Well, that was my IKEA experience. Overall, same IKEA, higher ceilings
2011 Dec 11
IKEA fans will enjoy Jonathan Coulton's song by that name:
itunes.apple.com
Cute, silly, etc. My favourite lines:
Billy the bookcase says hello | And so does the table, his name is Ingo | And the chair is a ladderback birch, but his friends call him Karl
itunes.apple.com
Cute, silly, etc. My favourite lines:
Billy the bookcase says hello | And so does the table, his name is Ingo | And the chair is a ladderback birch, but his friends call him Karl
2011 Dec 14
Went to IKEA yesterday afternoon. What a disaster!!! Thanks to "Monkey Feet" we went up the stairs to the check out as I knew the bin number for the item I wanted, Who ever thought that putting the check out of a cash and carry store on the second floor was a good idea!!! The elevators were not working due to an alarm going off, we did not know this when we arrived. Found our item very easily and checked out, no problem. As we were leaving a man was returning to say that the elevators had not been working for 45 minutes and he was rather upset, the answer he got was "Oh Well, should be working soon" There were many upset people with no help. Lots of people taking large items down the escalator, very dangerous. We were lucky enough to see a young man who working for Ikea and asked him for help. He managed to get our item down the escalator for us. He had trouble with the weight. Once at the bottom, there is no place to drive up to put your item in the car. We drove on the side walk to do this. Needless to say we will never be back to Ikea!!!
2011 Dec 14
Wow WINELOVER, I guess I had a better experience than you. Glad to have given you help with the area, but sorry to hear about the elevators. I guess they have LOTS of kinks to work out. I went there with the wife today and actually ate and walked around and shopped. Didn't realize you could end up at IKEA for almost two to three hours.
But yeah, seriously! Checkout on the second floor?!
I'd still go again...maybe in four months. I've had my fill for now.
But yeah, seriously! Checkout on the second floor?!
I'd still go again...maybe in four months. I've had my fill for now.
2011 Dec 15
We went yesterday and not crowded at all.
Parking in the indoor lot is very convenient as it was raining and windy .
The up escalator was out if commission but all elevators were working just fine .
Stopped for coffee and a very nice slice of cake
They could have had more cashiers open but wait was minimal compared to the time it took us to walk arround the store.
Prices for the food items very reasonable
Cake and coffee $ 2.00
Parking in the indoor lot is very convenient as it was raining and windy .
The up escalator was out if commission but all elevators were working just fine .
Stopped for coffee and a very nice slice of cake
They could have had more cashiers open but wait was minimal compared to the time it took us to walk arround the store.
Prices for the food items very reasonable
Cake and coffee $ 2.00
2011 Dec 18
We went last week. By the time we finished walking and checking, we were so tired (it was so hot inside due to the heat and also from the electric lighting and the crowds). By the time we checked out, we really didn't want to stop at their cafeteria (lots of customers at their cafeteria). Felt good to have some fresh air after exit!
2012 Jan 6
We went to the new Ikea for our first visit today - just a quick trip says my dw. Ha! I says. Toured the 3rd floor for a couple hours, then a quick lunch - a nice plate of greens with lots of feta and a pouch of Renee`s balsamic dressing for her, and meatballs and fries for me - all was as good as expected. Down to the second floor to gather up all the things we wanted then off to the checkout at which I left my dw to pay for all my purchases (ya, right) while I searched the food items near the checkout, purchasing a bottle of eiderflower drink concentrate for future considerations. I found my dw waiting for someone with authority to null the mistake the cashier had made on the bill, charging for 3 lights instead of 2 (she was just glad to have caught it before getting home - just how do you prove you've only bought 2 after you`ve left the store?). The curse of my life - having to wait for a refund after they make a friggin' mistake - I hate it! No way we were going to shrug off $110+! I wish they had a Swedish massage lady, Helga no doubt, at the exit to help ease my pain by giving me a free neck massage to ease my stress at the annoyance...oh well, that's one for their suggestion box!
Off to the Fairlawn plaza liquor store for some beer and wine to sooth my nerves before the ride home (first visit here too, a little disappointed by the size of the store and the selection of beers and wine) and settling in to a decent bottle of Schneider & Sohn Aventinus wheat dopplebock with some lightly toasted bacon biscotti, both highly restorative!!! OK, feeling way better now... so, back to my own dragonlady...
Off to the Fairlawn plaza liquor store for some beer and wine to sooth my nerves before the ride home (first visit here too, a little disappointed by the size of the store and the selection of beers and wine) and settling in to a decent bottle of Schneider & Sohn Aventinus wheat dopplebock with some lightly toasted bacon biscotti, both highly restorative!!! OK, feeling way better now... so, back to my own dragonlady...
2012 Jan 9
We went this weekend, and I was quite impressed by the new restaurant layout. I love going for the $1 breakfast, but it always used to drive me crazy that I would have to powerwalk halfway through the store, eat breakfast, and then walk back to the beginning of the store to start shopping. (Obviously, I'm all business. Eat first, shop later.)
The new restaurant is much more conveniently located at the top of the escalator, before you plunge into the labyrinth, and the seating area is so much bigger and nicer-looking than the old one. We shared the sundried tomato soup (good!), my boyfriend had roast chicken and fries, while I had the köttbullar (love 'em!) with mashed potatoes, and we split a piece of very sweet chocolate-caramel-almond cake for dessert.
Sure, it's crowded and noisy, but that's Ikea.
The new restaurant is much more conveniently located at the top of the escalator, before you plunge into the labyrinth, and the seating area is so much bigger and nicer-looking than the old one. We shared the sundried tomato soup (good!), my boyfriend had roast chicken and fries, while I had the köttbullar (love 'em!) with mashed potatoes, and we split a piece of very sweet chocolate-caramel-almond cake for dessert.
Sure, it's crowded and noisy, but that's Ikea.
2012 Jan 10
I lost my last post so here it is again: ikea does not yet have it's liquor license. It's too bad because you will need a few drinks to handle this shopping experience. Eat there?! I couldn't wait to get out of there. Someone told me the whole shopping trail is about 2.5kms which is I figure how far I walked to be told they were out of the one item that I was looking for.
Pasta lover