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Categories: Furniture Stores, Scandinavian
Neighborhood: Northeast PortlandSAVE $20 on home delivery when you show us a valid TriMet fare! Offer valid at IKEA Portland only September 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009.
Mon-Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
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Cheap furniture
Some stuff is pretty good
Some are basically made out of cardboard.
The Upstairs cafeteria is pretty cool looking and the food isn't bad either.
The Downstairs one is super cheap and still isn't bad for fast food.
Fun place to shop and eat!
Yummy!
Right by the airport - how convenient! A great place to sit and have an inexpensive meal or drink while you wait for arrivals or departures... or jump off the plane and bypass the $$$ airport food - hit up IKEA instead for healthier and less pricey fare. Mmmmm... the fries are good here... but did I say healthy? I've had really good salmon, salads, and fruit at IKEA.
IKEA. Made in China cheap crap, junk, and stuff... supporting not so great things, really, and certainly contributing to the giant and growing trash islands in the oceans... but a college or "just starting out" person or poor couples shangri-lai. If you're poor or just really super frugal (cheap), IKEA is the place for you! Bedding, linens, and textiles are cheaper here than at Walmart! Woah.
It's easy to be won over by how modern and beautiful everything looks. The simplicity of it all. The great deals.
The food area is my personal favorite, though. And you can sit by these big windows and enjoy an interesting view. Sweet. Or you can sit elsewhere and people-watch. Fun.
This past weekend - the swedish meatball plate was only one dolla'! $1!!! And FREE BREAKFAST all weekend, to boot. Yay IKEA for saving money.
I'd give it more stars, but I just can't. Ethically speaking... places like IKEA are ruining everything for us all. I suggest to the truly environmentally-inclined who also want a good deal on junk, crap, and stuff - hit-up your local thrift stores, garage and estate sales, freecycle, craigslist, and resale and consignment shops instead.
"affordable design" sums it up quite nicely. Just because we're not rich doesn't mean we don't deserve cool interior design.
I admit I was skeptical. More Euro junk, grumble grumble. It's too inexpensive, it can't be any good. Can it?
Wellllll.....I'm a convert. I love the playfulness and sophistication of their designs. I find things there that I like and then find a place for them in my house. Suddenly Portland is a lot less boring, as we abandon Home Depot (gaack) for IKEA.
I was initially concerned about quality but it's not bad at all. Just installed a sink and base cabinet, very impressive quality and design, clear instructions. I want a sofa. I want a new kitchen. IKEA, you make my head spin.
Hooked on the Swedish meatballs at the cafe.
Niggle: the printed catalog, the web site, and the store: three separate realities.
A word on particleboard furniture: particleboards have been around for over 60 years. They're used to make cabinets (kitchen and bath), countertops, and museum displays. Particleboard is an efficient way of utilizing a resource (lumber, aka trees) that is in increasingly short supply. Europe found itself nearly out of trees right after WWII and developed methods and standards for making particleboard furniture. Solid wood furniture? That eats up a lot of trees and is very expensive. Plywood? Better, but same story. Wood chips, glue, water, heat, and pressure and you've got particleboard. Nothing wrong with it. I've made furniture via all three methods.
I, for one, welcome our viking furnishing overlords.
This, like most Ikeas, are laid out in the same way as all other Ikeas. The difference, and what makes this a elite four star Ikea, is the friendly suburban Portland people.
Portland suburbs are a bit self loathing. "How dare I live in a bourgeouis enclave! I'm outraged by myself!" That's right Portland. Suburbanites are your evil dark side. People who might not recycle and all evil comes from a disposable income.
Their Ikea guilty pleasure will be a secret I keep for them. Shhh. I'll never tell, Portland! You can count on me.
I'm feeling generous with this rating. Truth be told I think IKEA furniture is particle board hell for the most part, but there are some things they do well, one of which being options for desks that you can't get configuration-wise at an office place. IKEA has it's place for sure. Back in the days when I couldn't afford more I've furnished entire habitats in IKEA-ware. However all I'm here to tell you is I had a specific need for desks in dimension and look, and this IKEA had everything I needed in stock and delivered it the next day even though we put our order in well into the evening. My order got there about when they said it would, and everything was there for me to put it together. Sure the instructions would be easier if they used words instead of universal stick figure drawings, but whatever. The office is built, and the furniture is hardy enough to endure maybe one more move before it completely disintegrates and I'm forced to buy something better and longer lasting.
I want to marry it. I don't care who knows. If IKEA were a person, it'd be some Nordic warrior with blond hair blowing in the breeze and a chestful of bronze and fur that would deliver me furniture at reasonable prices.
I'm poorish but I don't want to look that way, okay? IKEA helps me do this one $2.00 pair of salt and pepper shakers at a time (speaking of... I can't find them. I think they rolled under my car seat).
You definitely have to make a list. It's like walking into a CD with a couple of ideas in your head. The second you see a Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch cassette tape and the flood of nostalgia washes over you, you can't remember why the f*ck you were there in the first place. So you wander the store aimlessly. Same goes for IKEA except it is not Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch that induces your consumerism amnesia. It's their showroom and all that fun stuff to sit on and those American books translated into Swedish that line their bookshelves to look at.
What was I doing again? Buying a dish rack or something?
OMG this place is overwhelming. So much stuff. I could do some really cool things with the items in this store. Sadly some of the lighting fixtures would have required rewiring stuff and while I can do it, its just not worth the hassle on a rental.
I was quite amused how all the toilets were screwed shut in the model rooms, I could just imagine that being a disaster waiting to happen otherwise with all those kids running around.
Bottom line: Cheap prices, tons of cool stuff, especially since I am going with a minimalist theme back at home
Yes, it's disposable crap that no one really needs, and I suppose that I shouldn't like it. But I do. I have for quite some time. The 99 cent clocks aren't good for a year, but the cheap lounge chair is rock solid five years later. So, it's hit and miss.
My most recent Ikea addiction, though, is the As Is room. If you're willing to be a little bit creative and can wing your way through Ikea furniture construction with a couple of missing parts (and those oh-so-useless instruction manuals), then the As Is Palace is for you.
For example, my boyfriend and I found an awesome As Is deal on components of a discontinued shelving system -- the sort where you can decide how wide and tall you want the units by adding modules here and there. We figured out what we'd need to build it, bought the modules for either $1 or $1.50 each, and ended up with a nice shelving unit for about $20, where you'd expect to pay $50 or more for it otherwise.
I do have to give Ikea props for one other thing: I *LOVE* the fact that they charge for bags. This is a great idea... and one that works: I didn't see very many people at all with the cheap disposable plastic sacks, but I did see a few people bring in the big blue plastic bag (that they bought on an earlier trip) to reuse. It's a good thing!
The best part about Ikea is the food court. It's cheap food and you get a lot of it. Sweedish meatballs is the big draw here. They are delicious and even better with the lingonberry sauce. The sitting area is very impressive and has a giant glass window(s) facing the landing runway for PDX. It's very cool to watch all the aircraft come down for a landing! Where are they coming from I think to myself...
Anyway as for Ikea. Hmmm, for the cheap stuff (furniture) you get what you pay for. It sucks to have to assemble it yourself but that's how you save money. Once put together, that is essentially where it wi remain for the life of the product. Particle board can only handle so much. When I was a bachelor I furnished my whole apartment with Ikea. When it was time to move half of the Ikea stuff broke and fell apart. Not a big deal. Ultimately, I recommend for single people who want decent furniture but know that it won't last long.
Ikea also has some more quality furniture but in my opinion, I find it way over priced and one can find the same items for a bit less at a lock furniture store.
Crowds? OMFG. Stay away from Ikea on the weekends! It is a zoo. People are everywhere and kids are screaming and running wild, even with the kid day care on site. My Ikea is about 2 years old so it is still very popular vs other Ikeas in the country. Overall if you want good food and cheap one-time use furniture, go to Ikea. They have everything! And some of the most unique and innovative things I have ever seen (organizational wise).
You get what you pay for.
And if you're only willing to pay $150 bucks for a blue couch, you shouldn't be surprised when it begins to fall apart a year later. I understand the appeal of IKEA, as I am young and broke yet in need of non-ugly furniture. The problem is, in my dozen or so trips to IKEA in the last year and half, I have neglected to find more than maybe three items I've been happy with. Two of those items were lampshades. The other was a light bulb.
I've made more major purchases, too: a coffee table, some shelves, a drafting desk, that insufferable blue couch...and you know what? Each and every one of them is clinging to life.
Check out vintage stores instead, kids. You'll have to search a little harder for quality furniture, but you'll end up paying around the same price, and you won't end up with a creepy Swedish-modern apartment.
They do have good meatballs though. They earn a star for that.
(Side note: did you know the founder of IKEA was involved in the pro-Nazi New Swedish Movement? Yikes.)
I love you Ikea. Do you love me? I think you have to since I pay you.
Worst customer service ever. I had to return something, and I waited over 15 minutes for someone to appear at the counter. I even flagged someone down to tell them I was waiting, and I guess they couldn't be bothered to come out. It was another 10 minutes before I actually got some help. Now, I was the only person waiting, there wasn't a line, it was long before closing time, not sure what their problem was.
Oh, and they have been out of things I've wanted the last few times I've gone. I give up, Ikea.
Here's a tip: Go around 7:30pm. The place was nearly empty. It makes the shopping (and parking)… Read more »
As I'm driving out to Ikea again tonight I posed the question to my boyfriend, "God, how many times have I been to Ikea in the last two weeks?!"
Well, It's been at least 4, maybe more. I think 80% of the things in my apartment are from Ikea now, too. Not because it's trendy to shop there, and not because I'm a Swede-o-phile, but because they have great home furnishings at outstanding prices. New pillows made for side-sleepers such as myself? Only $12 each? Awesome! A 100 pack of tea lights for $2? Big score for a pyro like me. Not to mention the kitchen utensils, food storage containers, pots and pans, STORAGE BOXES! for my endless supplies of junk! Magazine boxes to put on the lovely and large Ikea bookcase in my living room. And the awesome, sophisticated grown-up dresser and chest of drawers that replaced the bed set I've had since I was 12!
I can spend $100 in Ikea and get two bag loads of stuff. Now, should I? Probably not. But they make it so easy!
Ok Ikea. Oh how I heart you in so many ways.
In no particular order:
Amazing home layouts which may never ever resemble my own home but a girl can dream....
Low prices to make you drool. A desk lamp for 3.99. A rug for 2.49. A shelving unit for 29. A side table for 11 (bought three). A large square format frame for 19 (which I lovingly gaze at in this very moment...).
Very handy self serving areas designated by area in the home.
The smell of cinnamon buns. Which, if it weren't for my diet against sugary fatty things I would divulge in every time. Still, the smell is good enough.
The quick and easy checkout.
The presence of staff yet at the same time, the non-presence of staff. You are free to shop and roam yet ask for assistance if necessary.
Ok, at this point you may be asking yourself, why the 4 star? Well because Ikea really isn't my favorite store of ALL time. And Yelp says that 5 stars is "Woohoo! As good as it gets!!!". Meh. I don't get all "woohoo!" when I go to Ikea. Mainly because there are crowds and crying children and the carts always seem to want to turn in circles because of some faulty wheel. LOL.
If Ikea were as quiet as a library with fewer shoppers, well then it wouldn't be Ikea, but it sure would get a 5 star.
Okay. Right now I just have to vent. I HATE HATE HAATE Ikea right now. I bought a fabulous red bookcase, very tall, for my sewing room. I was storing fabric on the top shelves, but hey, the fabric should weigh less than piles of books, right:? That cheap ass bookcase COLLAPSED!!! I am now finally trying desparately to put it back together as I try to organize the house for the appraiser who is coming tomorrow (WHY WHY WHY!!! I have a final tomorrow night; I could kill my husband for allowing this at this time!!). I am having the worst time putting it back together. The stuff looks good, but it doesn't hold up under the pressure. Like me right now.
I. Love. Ikea.
I really do. My entire apartment is full of furniture with fun names like, the... "Jülga" or the, "Jürsta".
Sometimes I even make up names for my furniture, all true to the Swedishness of it all. Like I really love my, "Klünin", which is my table. Sometimes I go there just to meander through the 360 sq ft apartment and be amazed.
It's fun! Go on a date there, I guarantee you'll come out smiling, go with a group and you'll come back with some great pictures. DO NOT LEAVE WITHOUT EATING THOSE SWEDISH BALLS! Because they are amazing.. and if you're vegetarian? I'm sorry. Eat some mashed potatoes- the gravy is meat free.
My secret advice when shopping:
1) Hit the returned area first- I got a coffee table for $30 marked from $90, same condition minus a tiny dent. THEN make your way to the magical entrance.
2) Make sure you have all the pieces. Some pieces are separate pieces, when it doubt, ask the folks in blue and yellow.
Yes indeed-y! This is the Kingdom of Particle Board! In every shape, size, color, and configuration. But here's the rub for me, it's affordable, not precious, and and has a Recession Times appeal about it. I like my vintage stuff more than anything, but the reality is that I live with small (and not so small ) boys, their various friends & activities, and pets. We do not live in a design bubble. For these reasons and more, we opted to head over to IKEA this morning. As much as I wanted to splurge on the divine black leather sofa at Design Within Reach, or the magnificent vintage Chesterfield at Flutter, the reality is that I would kill Ed and punish the boys severely if they damaged either of these items. While I still dropped a bundle today on a seating 'system' (since when did we need a 'system'?), I feel as tho' all parties, quadruped or biped, will survive if the unthinkable occurs.
The entire transaction was smooth, we chose our seating arrangement, quickly got our receipt, took it to the U -Pay & paid with a debit card. This is important b/c by paying this way, there's no cc charge and you receive a 3% coupon. While 3% does not sound like much, it added up. It added up to over $70.00 for us, thus paying for our delivery fee. Without having to fork over tax, with the 3%, and with the friendly & efficient service, this trip to IKEA is A-Okay in my book!
While the transaction rates highly, let's face it: it's a big block store, inconveniently located, and I feel like a member of the bovine contingent herding through the absurdly labyrinthine mazes. Still, for the kid & pet households, this is a good bet. I'm still avoiding all the particle board stuff, tho'!
If the world is our mirror, then I don't like the me I see when I gaze into Ikea. But alas, it's not her fault. She is exactly what she sets out to be, and I give her 5* props for it.
But I don't like that I had not one, but TWO fro-yo cones last night. They were a dollar. The governor was off. I would have had a third if we'd stayed longer. But really, you can't go wrong with just about any food court or snack item there. Such a deal.
And I don't like the fascist labyrinth of consumerism one must travel through to reach any one product destination. If you want a brochure on the butcher block counter tops, plan at least 45 minutes for the whole errand. And that's without a fro-yo.
What really makes me sad is that they've mastered the art of producing poor quality products and selling them at the expense of developing nations' workers and ecosystems.
We all know their stuff is cute but that it's crap. Read the other reviews...we know it, we throw it, and we buy a new one. When I'm there, though, I really believe I need new stuff. Like protein powder canisters. I believe my dog suffers because she doesn't have an elevated water bowl. Hello bag-o-tea-lights-as-big-as-a-baby-for-$5.
This is an interesting video that really changed how I feel about stuff. Little facts, presented in a not too sensationalized way, like that 99% of the STUFF that comes out of a big box store is in a landfill within 6 months. Yikes.
http://www.storyofstuf.../
I am going to buy a new sink at Ikea, and it's twice as nice and half the price of anywhere else I've found. Maybe it will be in that narrow 1% that survives. I know I'll get a fro-yo that won't make it the hell out of the parking lot.
I like IKEA. I don't like this location's layout - the most difficult thing to fix, I know. The older IKEA's layout allowed shoppers to hop around to different areas, but the newer IKEA layouts funnel shoppers through a maze of different departments and short cuts are difficult to find. You are locked in this shopping hell with crowds of people and carts that turn on all wheels! Arg! Frustrating!!!
The food is meh. You know, IKEA food. Not great, just satisfying for a long day of shopping.
The service is okay. Not necessarily rude, but friendly enough.
Yes, I'm a fan of Ikea. So sue me.
I recently moved into my first apartment and due to an (interesting) situation, I had to buy everything except a bed. And my budget was $300.
I perused a catalog before I went, and made a list of the things I wanted. This particular store had everything I wanted except the coffee table I picked out - I had to settle for a skinny $14 one instead. Oh well. The real steal was a sofa bed that only $149 (Solsta sofa bed). Assembly at home was very simple and things weren't as flimsy as I thought they would be. The furnishings are simple, but they do their job and look good, too. And most importantly, I stayed within my budget.
My first mystic experience with IKEA was when my roommate offered to pick up an entertainment center for our Spokane townhouse when he went home to Seattle for a weekend. Cool. I was pretty tired of our TV sitting on the floor... don't get me started on the feng shui of it.
So when he got back and walked in with a tiny box saying that was it, I was a little confused. Seriously? That's all? Yet my skepticism turned into delight when up popped a nice little stand to hold the plethora of dvd/tv/nintendo boxes previously strewn across the living room. That along should warrant a few stars to this "a place for everything and everything in its place" girl.
I've since moved home from Spokanistan, and finally have the opportunity to visit IKEA.pdx whenever I need a dose of efficient and affordable home decor. I actually like the windy pathway set up through the place. For the IKEA novice, it's a nice navigation route through the "build it yourself" empire. Then again, having the secret express points through are a nice time saver if you know what you're looking for.
I don't really do crowds, especially when they're made up of throngs of pushy bargain hunters, so I've found that the *ideal* time to hit this place up is at 6.30 on a Friday night. Practically empty, tons of close parking, and perfect for leisurely walking through and stopping to try out the furniture without someone right up on you slamming cupboard doors and yelling at their snotty nosed, bratty little kid to "QUIT THROWING MEATBALLS AT THAT BOOKCASE!"
The blue shirted staff is cool, even going so far as to actually help me track down a mirror I was looking for in the warehouse area. Efficient doesn't necessarily mean easy, and such is the case in wayfinding through the walls of brown boxes plastered with names like Kolja and Krabb.
My purchases here as of late have only been small accessories for the kitchen and bedroom, but I'm always pleased with the quality I end up with. I don't expect this stuff to last forever, but do appreciate the time that I do get to use it. I guess there's something to be said about that strategy. It's really more of a "one living unit use only" kind of product line. It's not like if you move you'll ever be able to disassemble everything and get it back into those tiny boxes...
Now that would really be mystic.
Yep, finally went. And here is why: I went with a plan. (And I shop alone.)
1. Get a copy of the catalogue, it probably came in your mail a month ago.
2. Before bed get a cup of tea, lay down, get your dog-earring fingers ready.
3. Mark only essential items for this trip, no extra Swedish crapulence.
4. Decide beforehand that you will not spend more than budgeted.
5. Go right when they open on Saturday, 10am.
6. Get in and out with your items, before the cfuck begins. And avoid at all cost the childrens section.
7. Drive away, come back in 6-12 months.
Eeh, 2.5 stars, but I'm in a good mood, so I'll round up. :)
So, I'm heading to the airport and notice that the exit to the airport has a giant IKEA sign looming over any identity of the airport other than a few signs and a control tower 2 miles away.
Anyways, someone decides to take me to IKEA. I'm new to the whole IKEA thing. Never been to a store in my life until now.
First things first... I'm not too happy with the concept of a maze showroom. It's like some amusement ride fun house from hell. I'm sorry, but if you just want to get plants (at the end of the labyrinth), why can't you walk straight to the plant section? The "shortcuts" are annoying and really unnecessary. I mean, the showroom is cute and all, but I feel like some lab rat going through an advertising maze trying to induce you into a buying high. The furniture is fine; they are creative in packing it. It's somewhat of a pain to assemble it, but I can see its advantages, especially when transporting it.
The food is cheap, but the quality is even cheaper. I only went to the quick snack bar, though. I didn't go to the restaurant. The cinnamon rolls were really bland. I prefer Costco's food court over this and it's about the same price.
As I write this review I am sitting on my Jeff folding chair (the Stefan chair in black is currently out of stock) and typing on my laptop that is placed upon my Bjursta dining room table. My bedroom now holds a Malm bed, behind the bed shelf/bedside table pull out thing and the low six drawer dresser with the green glass on top. In my living room I have the beautiful 4X4 Expedit bookshelf. The only things I didn't buy at Ikea were a mattress and a couch. Of course, the mattress hasn't arrived yet and I still haven't decided on a couch.
I'm so in love with Ikea. It's not funny. I would marry it if I could. I dreamed about getting the Malm set for a year. Seeing it there and ripe for the picking was Ikeargasmic. The restaurant at this one is really good. The mac-n-cheese for $.99 is killer. The pasta and marinara is delicious. The veggie wrap is fresh and comes with a fantastic dipping sauce. Man oh man, it's a sin not to eat there while shopping.
Am I a little upset that they discontinued the chair I wanted to get for my living room? Yes. Were the ceilings in the market place level too low and caused my agoraphobia/claustrophobia to go into high gear and give me a panic attack. Yes. Did this matter in the big scheme of things now that I'm home with my gorgeous furniture? Not at all.
I would definitely recommend having heavy, bulky items delivered. I live up a flight of stairs. There was no way I would have been able to get some of the furniture up here. The delivery guys did it, no problem. For that alone it would have been worth millions of dollars, but in actuality they delivered all aforementioned furniture for under $100. That's a bargain if you ask me.
I really have a love hate relationship with IKEA.... I love the furniture and gadgets there, I hate going into the store.
The first time I braved IKEA, I had just moved into a new apartment and needed a few things, I took my daughter who was 4 at the time, plunked her in the cart and off I went. About 5 minutes into the trip, I started feeling claustrophobic and started to have a panic attack, I had to leave. There were just too many people there, they stop right in front of you and don't bother to step off to the side like having manners should teach you. The selection and prices are really great, I have never gotten anything that hasn't functioned properly. The "rooms" they have set up really can give you a good base for a room if you have no ideas yourself and it's cheaper than hiring an interior designer (I know I don't have the cash for that).
I have found that if I need to go to IKEA now, I need to go when they first open and have another adult with me (BF) that way the crowds are more managable and we get in and get out...we always know what we want before we go in.
IKEA is not somewhere to go browse and shop, you will go crazy. I suggest you go online and know what you want, make sure it's in stock, then go and get it at the store.
Finally I dint have to drive all the way to Seattle every time I want some of their chocolate balls..... Good prices for stuff for the home and even the restaurant is nice with good prices! All right on the Max
SCREW YOU IKEA! For being so damn great.
I mean that in a good way, I love Ikea, I have since the first time I saw a cataloge, since the first time I set foot in one down in LA. I love Ikea LOVE LOVE it!!
No sense really reviewing it because it is what it is but I Love the food and I love the stuff!
Sometimes I go there just to look ( I know!)
The cafeteria.......
I get the mashed patatoes with the gravy and mac and cheese.....a fat kids dream come true!
apple cake, lingonberry juice, hazelnut cake.....
I LOVE IKEA.
Oh Ikea, why do I often feel you are the third sign of the apocolypse?
Everything you have in your store is so practical and cute...and how dare i not mention your low low prices. Yet something within me is just not quite satisfied with my 800 pounds of rickety bookshelves i procured from you just a short while ago. That's right, it may weigh a ton, but be hopeful a stiff wind doesn't come by and knock them over.
In all seriousness, the shelves are still holding together, though I highly doubt they would survive another move unscathed. Another great example of the old addage: you get what you pay for.
The food court on the other hand..delicious. I find it hard to deny the $4 plate of meatballs on every trip to the store. That's right, no Ikea review is complete without mention of meatballs. There you go, I did it.
My favorite Ikea sections however, as the crafty goddess that I am, is the fabrics. Cheap, pretty decent quality stuff. You're not getting prices like this at the shop down the street, and it really helps to supplement my stash with bright bold solids when I just can't afford to go out and get my beloved Kona cottons. Sometimes, I even settle for solid colors of sheets from their bedding department. What's a poor young diy junkie to do?
All in all I think I would deem Ikea to me as Kryptonite to Superman, yet I can not stay away.
Touche Ikea, Touche.
I don't care if you don't like Swedish-design-Made-in-China furniture or if you are allen wrench impaired - YOU CAN EAT AT IKEA!
Seriously - the cheapest breakfast in town. Eggs, bacon (or sausage), potatoes...$.99! Swedish pancakes with whip cream and lingonberry sauce...$1.99! Two of us ate like Swedish kings for 8 bucks. And that, my friends, can't be beat. Plus, if you spend enough time wandering around, you'll have room in your tum-tum-tummy for a $.50 hot dog on the way out.
Oh yeah - and they have furniture and stuff, too.
There is not a single material object on this planet that I will physically line up for. Especially not a table and chairs and box of white plates. However, on Veteran's Day that is what 600 people did and by the time I got there, approximately 10:30 am, the time in which I begin functioning every morning, the sale coupons for the aforementioned items were gone.
This place is also always packed with people, ALWAYS, and very poorly mapped out with tiny aisle ways and hidden passages and people breaking down in sobs in the show rooms once they realize they've gone through the same entryway five times trying to find the exit from this monstrosity.
Since you can shop online and pick up in-store or have it delivered, you have no excuse for braving the furniture circus/labyrinth that is IKEA more than once to see the items in person. And, unlike everyone else it seems, I would rather eat off the back of my hand than stand in front of a closed store for an hour in a sheep herd so I could save 11 bucks on plates.
We enjoy the meat balls what a great dish and very reasonable price. I have bought many furniture items. I like the storage ideas for small places.
A fun store to visit.
Ikea is just one of my guilty pleasures - it feels like a local, magical version of (home accessories) Disney Land! And I think if I had children that needed entertaining, I'd love Ikea even more, not only for its adorable & affordable children's furniture, but because you can safely and happily 'coat check' your child into a world of kiddy entertainment.
But onto the good stuff.
Quality is hit or miss at Ikea, so I prefer shopping in the store over shopping online or in the catalog, because I just need to see some of the stuff in person to determine if it looks cheap & ill-made or sleek & classy. The prices are really not to be beat.
Ikea is my favorite standy for: cost-effective art prints & frames, because while sometimes the selection seems a bit stale, you can put up framed art all over your house for under $200. The rugs also offer a great value, and I'm a huge fan of a few of the dressers & bookshelves. Most of all I love their array of vases, containers, lamps, and other accessories that are generally simple, but fun, and always extremely affordable (and its hard to find things prices more reasonably than at Target).
Its one thing to deck out your entire home in Ikea (which I've done), and another to selectively shop for a few things that would otherwise be outrageously expensive. While one *could* afford to furnish an entire apartment with Ikea, I wouldn't really go that route ever again. But without Ikea, I couldn't have afforded TWO dressers -- and I really need both of them -- and I wouldn't have such cute & functional home accessories.
I love Ikea & their crazy restaurant located on the premises. Swedish meatballs anyone?
Why did they have to build it so close to the airport? Seriously, I mean I know I'm moderately phobic, but every time I come to this specific IKEA the whole time I'm hoping a 747 doesn't mistake the rooftop for the runway. I HATE planes :(
I always feel like cattle when I mozy on through the IKEA lanes with the shiny signs pointing in new directions. The shopping carts are genius though - they glide like clouds.
Some items have IKEA written all over them. I try to avoid those items. The majority of it though is affordable and decorative. If you mix it in with the right amount of other furniture/decor, it should look just fab in the home.
I really wish they could take the meatball pictures with meatball juice off the walls however. It just looks dirty! I normally can handle dirty, but who wants meatballs made in the pits of an IKEA factory?
I recommend going through the self checkout line if the others are long. Plus, if something magically doesn't have a bar code on it, well, what is a boy to do....
I am here to discuss the cafeteria. The food is not fantastic - but the concept and the aura is very European Rest Stop. I go there for this feeling! The special soda is amazing, and the little cheap food options are great - even if they are not gourmet. I seriously suggest grabbing something here when shopping around Cascades, even if you hate Ikea... I'd eat at the cafeteria over the other fast food places around.
The giant particle board emporium.
We do love the Billy bookcases, as well as some of their other tables and shelfs. Excellent return policy.
Kitchen stuff is so-so.
Noticeably smaller than the Renton location.
OKAY FINE. I'll write a review of IKEA.
These are the rules before you arrive at IKEA:
1. Don't park in the Staples lot. There's a furniture store that had this security guard out front making sure IKEA traffic didn't get in their lot.
2. Forgo the cart for the huge yellow bag. It's easier to stealthily maneuver through the massive Sunday-afternoon crowds.
3. FOLLOW THE ARROWS. People are sheep. People at IKEA are sheep. They don't walk fast...they mosey...and the lines on the floor are probably there to help you avoid run-ins with dummies.
4. Bring your own bag. Save the environment. Save $0.05 by not purchasing plastic bags.
With these basic rules, you, too, can be a successful IKEA shopper! If you're like me and hate crowds, it will do you good if you don't already know the store to go during a non-busy time...like a Wednesday night. Otherwise, I HIGHLY recommend that you know what you want, map out your route through the store, and zig-zag, swerve, and run through the crowd and into the looooong lines as soon as possible.
If it's that big of a pain, why, you may ask, would I shop at IKEA?
Well, half of it is the hype. Um, it's IKEA, and it's in PORTLAND. Also, I really appreciate contemporary European design and furniture. Also, I'm cheap/poor/choose adjective. Also, you rock.
But, be choosy with what you buy. My friend provided the couch for our apartment. She got it there for $300, and it's a very well put together couch, and a pretty damn good deal. Slip covers cost $200, but it's nice to be able to wash them and switch up the style a bit. On the other hand, we got some glass shelves for our bathroom. They didn't come with hardware, and (this was the same with the window fixtures) the only directions they had were elementary drawings. The shelf also fell off the wall because we apparently didn't use the right kind of screws, but how were we supposed to know if the kit didn't come with 'em?!?!
However you shop, two MUSTS from the IKEA food shop are as follows: (a) Lingonstat. YUM. It's like grown-up Kool Aide in my tummy. Get a glass of it or get a jug of the concentrate to make at home. (b) King-sized milk chocolate and hazelnut bars. Need I say more?
Still with me? After an exhausting day, good luck finding your car.
Paul and I swore up and down we would not buy any more furniture or anything else from Ikea because it always falls apart. Right now up in my office I have two Ikea bookshelves that may break apart at any minute. Sure, the black wood looks fierce but I know it is only a matter of time until Paul's latest D&D book causes the entire thing to come crashing to the ground. But, we needed a couch and a rug ASAP and we needed it to be delivered pretty much right away. The only place that we found that could do that was Ikea. Sigh.
Well, we ended up buying a couch that was black...bonus for that. It is really comfortable and is was certainly cheap that is for sure. Granted every time we sit on it we wonder if it will fall apart but I guess for now it was the easiest solution to our needing stuff right away. In true Ikea fashion, the rugs that we bought are already balling all up and bits of fabric are falling off. Hopefully that will not continue but I wouldn't be surprised.
The store itself was crowded and quite difficult to navigate through. It was also close to impossible to find people to help you. You totally get what you pay for though so, I shouldn't complain, right? The parking lot was shockingly easy to park in, so that was good.
Ikea is perfect for people on a budget that don't care how long the stuff lasts for. It is perfect for items that you need quickly and the stuff does look cool so again, whatever, you get what you pay for. I do totally love how you can get tons of black and red stuff. I am on a mission to make my townhouse look like I am the secret third member of the White Stripes so Ikea works great for me in that aspect.
The other reviews are right about what's the best time to shop. It was fantastic finding a spot right infront of the building.
There are no kids running around, just a few shoppers browsing through every item.
The restaurant is already closed by the time I arrived which is not bad at all. I got what I want (swedish meatballs- they're ok. linggonberry drink- less tart than a raspberry. elderberry drink- it's almost drinking a flowery water.)
Have a list of what you need to buy before you even step in. Go online and/or look at a catalog. You maybe overwhelmed once you step in.
I would probably vouch for their accessories. They are cheap and they look pretty sturdy. But the rule of the thumb plays, you get what you pay for.
Being from California... IKEA is nothing new to me...but this facility is great!! I can not say enough about how much I love the attitude of most people in Portland... You take those amazing people and throw them into my fav. store...well...you have a made a customer for life out of me!!
The employees there are always helpful and most importantly honest!! They are real people who talk to you like a real person...like a friend ....
No question goes unanswered ...I am just an all around happy camper!!
To add on a bonus...FOOD!!! Working near Cascade Station...we dont have many food options....but IKEA makes it cheap and easy to grab REAL food for lunch...
Salad and pasta and a drink for like 5 bucks!! With chicken! mmmmm it was great...
If you have not been to IKEA yet...its time....bring the fam....have time for lunch...and dont forget desert!!
Have to weigh in on the Ikea debate. I love this place. Maybe it's the big friendly blue building which beckons to the needy shopper: "Come shop here! We are Swedish and friendly!" Or perhaps it is the great variety and reasonable prices.
I have found the quality of things here to vary somewhat, with some items being better made than others. I got a great wardrobe here and the flexibility of options and design made it a good choice, especially for the price.
The accessories and design options are plentiful and varied. I think it is perfect for setting up a first place or adding to a current one.
The food: It is cheap! The food is by no means great, but it certainly does the job. The Swedish meatballs are always fun!
Neighborhood: Southwest Portland
Category: Korean
Neighborhood: Northeast Portland
Category: Airports
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![Resting :] On an IKEA bed of course ....](http://static4.px.yelp.com/bphoto/M0Ky4mnxE9V9ty6B-qP22A/m)
