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Which Ikea Do You Go To?

052108_ikea.jpgWith a 3 day weekend approaching, a lot of us are bound to stop by an Ikea and in Southern California we have a ton of options. With 4 locations in the LA-ish area (plus one in San Diego) it would seem that getting to Ikea would be a walk in the park. But as ATChicago pointed out, it can still make us groan. Being in Venice, Carson ends up being the closest but is still a 40 minute drive away. Which Ikea do you hit up most often? Survey under the jump:


[image from dalboz17 flickr set]

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Surveys, ikea, long weekend, burbank, carson, costa mesa, san diego, southern california

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Comments (37)

Live in Venice as well... wish there was a closer Ikea.

posted by GKMcNeil on 2008-05-22 18:23:50
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I live in West LA and am grateful that there isn't a closer IKEA, because I'd come home with a new "must have" every chance I got.

posted by kitties! on 2008-05-22 18:26:24
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At least you have an IKEA within driving distance. I live in the Denver area, and the closest IKEA is in Salt Lake City, which is at least an 8 hour drive. The only way to really shop there is to buy stuff when we are traveling and ship it back -- so we usually have to keep the shopping to a minimum and with nothing too hefty (the shipping they add on from the online shopping is more expensive than the actual cost of the goods).

posted by natalie1215 on 2008-05-22 18:44:11
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I live about 15 minutes from the Burbank IKEA... but I still keep my trips to a minimum, mostly because I don't find it "fun" to browse that store. I only go if I have a reason to.

posted by sparkle on 2008-05-22 19:18:27
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Living in East LA, Ikea Burbank is only about 5 minutes closer than Ikea Covina, and seeing as Ikea Covina is newer and bigger, with more things in stock, and with far more parking, and usually far less people, I tend to go there.

posted by Jose A on 2008-05-22 19:28:08
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Don't live in LA but for me, it's the IKEA in Kent, about 20-30 minutes south of Seattle. From Tacoma, it's more like 40 minutes.

I tend to go there every few months, or when I think to go. :-)

posted by ciddyguy on 2008-05-22 19:28:16
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Oh IKEA. I live in East LA, too, Jose! :) Too bad the Covina one is twenty miles away. Not very environment-friendly or wallet-friendly to drive there on a regular basis!

posted by supafrantastic on 2008-05-22 19:35:48
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Our Ikea here in Portland is right off the light-rail line and incredibly convienient. Likewise, except for saturday it doesn't seem to be as nightmarishly busy as people in other cities complain about. Suckers.

posted by nboxwell on 2008-05-22 19:37:06
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Haha, I know it seems like Ikea Burbank is so much closer, but its not really. According to google:

From my house to Ikea Burbank: 15.6 mi – about 19 mins
From my house to Ikea Covina: 20.7 mi – about 24 mins

On a side note, Ikea Covina can be traveled to via the Metrolink. Its not listed on their site, but I do believe they provide a shuttle from to and from the station.

posted by Jose A on 2008-05-22 19:53:50
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our only Ikea in Washington is the one near Seattle, and thankfully its about 20 min away... with so many incentives to come back often: 15% - 20% off coupons monthly and topping it off with a tax free promotion this weekend, I'm coming home with a much needed couch!

posted by jenniejenjen on 2008-05-22 19:57:51
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Carson while I am at home on the Westside or I hit the Costa Mesa one if I am on my way down or coming back from visiting my parents in Newport. Both conveniently located off the 405.

posted by Seaside on 2008-05-22 20:00:54
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Burbank's closest to home.

posted by jennaelliott on 2008-05-22 20:07:47
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NEW HAVEN CT!!!

posted by robertcraig on 2008-05-22 20:26:16
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I go to Burbank, but Costa Mesa is better stocked and far cleaner.

posted by Palmetto on 2008-05-22 21:29:55
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I live in Las Vegas and the closest one to us is in Covina! That is a long drive through the desert!! So we do not get to go as often as I would like. (there are alot of stores we do not have, like crate & barrel)

I have written to Ikea several times, quoting the population of Las Vegas and the amount of people that move here on a monthly basis. Their response is that they are looking to expand further into the markets they already exist in. I am so bummed, but I continue to keep the hope alive that someday they will change their mind.

posted by Amy L on 2008-05-22 21:43:51
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I'm in Venice, too and the Carson Ikea has single-handedly created my intense hatred of the 405.

posted by mr.O on 2008-05-22 22:06:05
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i much prefer the covina location. i moved from the inland empire, so that's where i went most while i was getting a bunch of stuff to move.

but now that i'm in venice, i go to carson more often.

the fact that it's a little farther away actually makes it more exciting; it's like, you get to plan ahead and make a whole day out of it.

posted by fifteenpetals on 2008-05-22 23:14:28
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I'm in the marina, so I go to Carson usually. But I have noticed (in person and when checking online) that the Costa Mesa one is much better stocked.

posted by nankie on 2008-05-22 23:38:32
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Ikea is my Disneyland :)

posted by Lizzykewl on 2008-05-23 01:11:29
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Covina

posted by Elle78 on 2008-05-23 02:26:37
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Right now I take a shuttle bus from Port Authority to Elizabeth NJ, but next month the Redhook store in Brooklyn opens. Yeah!

posted by Devyn on 2008-05-23 07:36:55
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Bordeaux!

posted by hrhprincessfiona on 2008-05-23 10:07:31
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my San Diego Ikea is smaller than the Costa Mesa one, and the parking situation sucks because it is a lot shared with Lowes and Costco. You cannot bring Ikea carts into the parking lot, you have to drive your car into a loading zone, making shopping by yourself all but impossible because someone has to guard your stuff while you get the car. They also don't have as big of a selection, I noticed the CM location has a larger variety of items and more room to move around in.

posted by nadiarl on 2008-05-23 11:27:56
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i enjoy the covina ikea a lot. i personally think it's better than the costa mesa one.

posted by ponyinarope on 2008-05-23 12:11:46
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One thing about the Seattle IKEA is that when it opened in 1995, it was small and took up a good chunk of the hanger the store was in, the parking, accessed via covered walkways took over another hanger.

Now, it's 3 times it's original size, takes up 1.75 or so hangers with the remaining quarter reserved for loading and handicapped parking.

All other parking takes up 2 large hangers across a covered walkway and there is ground parking outside as well.

It's HUGE!

posted by ciddyguy on 2008-05-23 12:20:00
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Round Rock, anyone? Anyone?

posted by mander-ella on 2008-05-23 12:54:56
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I think the Costa Mesa store is the nicest one in LA. Carson is a lot smaller, and doesn't have a restaurant.
Covina and Costa Mesa are newer, and larger, than Carson (which used to be a Stor) and Burbank.

posted by wannabe minimalist on 2008-05-23 12:56:10
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When I used to go to USC, I was almost equidistant from the Burbank and Carson one. I would usually go to Carson because traffic was better, and parking is WAY better there. I hate dealing with the parking lot at the burbank Ikea.

But now I live right off the 5 in Los Feliz/Silverlake area, so it only makes sense for me to go to the Burbank one. I just avoid the weekends, and go on weeknights on my way home from work in the valley

posted by shess on 2008-05-23 13:42:23
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Elizabeth NJ -- altho' I live closer to the Paramus store, it is newer and I know the Elizabeth store like the back a me 'and! (snort! as if there's much difference in layout - lol!)

posted by tahitianpearl on 2008-05-23 14:02:32
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Wow, Burbank by a landslide!

posted by laure on 2008-05-23 16:39:03
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Planning to visit the Costa Mesa one this Saturday :) taking the little one to Grandma's for the evening, then shopping at IKEA. Fun Saturday (and relaxing!)

posted by Kris on 2008-05-23 16:59:26
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i was just at the frisco tx ikea this morning....because i work there.....hehe

posted by elizabethy on 2008-05-23 18:07:21
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yeeaayyyy!!!!! elizabethy!! that is the one i shop at i live in rowlett tx and drive 25 or so miles there.

posted by antonietta on 2008-05-24 01:06:56
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We go to the tempe AZ one/two times a week...it's not super busy or crowded on weekends and definitely not on weekday mornings when I take my 3 and 1 year olds there for breakfast and some play time!

posted by jojoch on 2008-05-24 11:05:59
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No car in SF...I shop online!!!

posted by danze on 2008-05-24 13:27:49
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Living out here close to Simi, we go to the Burbank one. It's great during the weekdays...hardly anyone there. We try to go on a Thursday morning.

posted by freak.couture on 2008-05-25 20:38:45
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I can walk to IKEA Burbank.

posted by Marcelo on 2008-05-25 23:29:24
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