For months, IKEA enthusiasts have been watching the construction at the intersection of IH35 and FM 1435 in Round Rock. First, the Outlet Mall opened, to rave reviews. But we had to wait for the real treat.
Now, as a Texan, I really have no problem driving 150 miles one way to Houston from Austin for an afternoon of lunch and shopping at IKEA and Penzeys. But it does take a whole day there and back and can only rarely be done on the spur of the moment. And the catalogue just isn't the same . . . really, it isn't.
But last week, finally, to great fanfare and LOTS of traffic, with the roads leading to it still under construction, IKEA finally opened. I passed on the first day, but my husband and I couldn't resist going a couple of days later for dinner (Swedish meatballs with lingonberry sauce! MMMMMM!) and to look around. We only bought a couple of little things, and only one piece of furniture, a stepstool for height-challenged me, but I spied many things that I'll be going back to pick up for a pittance to use in staging.
My husband went back, on Black Friday of all days (while I went to less crowded venues such as Office Depot, the grocery store - practically empty the day after Thanksgiving, but I had to get some items for my Saturday After Thanksgiving Gumbo - and the feed store) and came home with more treasures.
Now, if we could just get a Penzey's to open up in the area, life would be relatively complete.
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