buttonman700 Posted July 28, 2007 Posted July 28, 2007 Like a true IKEA fanboy I showed up at 5:30 in the morning! Why? Well why not? Kasey and I love the IKEA line, and well if the store was closer, I might even apply for seasonal work. The news had been reporting for weeks that the traffic would be awful and the crowds in the tens of thousands. I drove up and got a space right up front. ( the crowds never did materialize, Kasey got a space even closer than mine hours later.) As I said before I arrived at 5:30, poor Kasey had to teach at drama camp so I went on with out her, she and a good friend of ours would meet up with me later on. As the morning wore on, and the few hundred or so peeps that camped out for a free Pong chair, gathered up their gear and the line moved toward the front of the store. There were news reporters from all over, helicopters flying over head, and a great line up of entertainment to kep us busy during our four hour wait. I'd never been to a grand opening of anything before and this was, to say the least, fun. Workers tossed out tons of free crap at the crowd. Most of which was of no interest to me, however... There was one thing about the morning that made the day just a little more enjoyable. My wife and I have this strange ability to attract the odd balls in any crowd and today was no exception to the rule. I had no sooner arrived, and Viola! There she was, I never got her name, but from the moment she arrived to the moment I set foot in the store, A mind numbing four hours, she never stoped talking. My wife called, she talked at me. A reporter from a local paper made arrangements to meet me at IKEA to interview me, she tried to answer all the questions the reporter asked me!, when IKEA workers tossed tings to the crowed she ran off to retrieve goodies, handing me her backpack whilst she ran off. I kept on telling her I didn't really want any thing, but she wouldn't stop! You get the picture, The store opened at 9:00 we shuffled off to get our free gift cards (free frozen yogurt for me), and I made a break for it... I told her I needed to go meet up with the reporter, and bolted off. (as best I can, it's rather hard to bolt when you're 6"5" and weigh in at 380! I gave it a good effort!) I had a great time, despite her, and now she makes for great conversation. If you ever meet up with me, ask about her, we nick named her 'babbling Betty! Kasey and Teresa showed we shopped some, got a few new things for the house. Having an IKEA this close could be a bad thing. We're heading up on Sunday for lunch, and to check out as-is. Of you're on town and need an IKEA guide drop a line! I'm the one wearing the orange and white striped shirt... she's standing to my left. wearing glasses!
texashorns82492 Posted July 28, 2007 Posted July 28, 2007 Ummm....score for you because you now have an awesome furniture store located near you.
Neogreeneyez Posted July 30, 2007 Posted July 30, 2007 Very interesting that you attract the weird people in the crowd lol. What kind of free stuff were they throwing into the crowd?
buttonman700 Posted July 30, 2007 Author Posted July 30, 2007 I got a free 'stress ball' in the shape of a chair, two water bottles, two key chains with tape measures in them, Ikea seeds for the garden, two electric Ikea fans, Ikea sport clap noise maker thingys, free keys made, free doughnuts and drinks whilst in line, frisbees, t-shirts, hats (didn't get one), paper fans, and more. Went up today, MY GOD, it was packed!!!
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