Where is the IKEA?

[Will Bell]

Being a great fan of IKEA, I'd like to visit the one I've heard has opened
in Houston. Would someone be kind enough to tell me where it is (we're
obviously not from Houston). Directions to get there from, say, hwy 290
would be appreciated too.

Thanks!
WBB
--
Will Bell -- be...@cs.tamu.edu -- Live from the heart of Scenic Central Texas
"That guy's nose is huge!"

[Catherine Anne Foulston]

How to get to IKEA from 290:

I am not overly familiar with the NW part of town so I don't promise
this is the shortest way to get there, but it's probably the simplest
to explain. I and my checkbook were all too familiar with STOR though
we've only been there once since it became Ikea.

Take 290 into Houston, to 610. Take 610 south to I-10, a very short
trip. Take I-10 west and exit at Antoine -- I think it's the first
exit after you get off of 610. Ikea will be on the right and it's
hard to miss since the building is done in bright blue and yellow.

If you want to briefly take your mind off furniture, or have a snack
to eat while you assemble your purchases, I _highly_ recommend the
vanilla butter cookies (called "Vanilla Dreams," I think, sold in
a black plastic bowl). I think I really just made this posting so I
could mention these cookies -- I seldom venture outside the loop, so
there has to be someone who knows an easier way than I do to get to
Ikea from College Station.

Cathy
--
Cathy Foulston + Rice University + Network & Systems Support + cat...@rice.edu
Actually I'm not clueless. I'm conceptually challenged.

[Homer The Brave]

be...@cs.tamu.edu (Will Bell) sez:

>Being a great fan of IKEA, I'd like to visit the one I've heard has
opened
>in Houston. Would someone be kind enough to tell me where it is (we're
>obviously not from Houston). Directions to get there from, say, hwy 290
>would be appreciated too.

Ok, you're coming south on 290. Eventually 290 will disappear into the
610 loop.. this is a tricky intersection for the uninitiated; westbound
is the right lanes, southbound is the left lanes. You want to go south,
so get to the left.

You're on 610 going south now. You see a big shopping mall on your right.
There's lots of traffic. You're lucky to be moving at all. :)

After you pass the big castle-thingie, hang a right and head westbound on
I-10. Note that the second bridge you pass under after you're on I-10
comes down in the middle of the highway; this is the infamous HOV lane.
Take pictures. Its the thing that makes Houston's mass transit authority
the laughing stock of the universe.

Ok.. after you're on I-10, you need to take the first exit. I believe its
the Silber exit... But if you miss it you can do a U-turn and end up at
IKEA anyway. IKEA is the big butt-ugly blue building on the north side of
the freeway, to your right. Just find the parking lot entrance and pull
on in. You're there.

And if you listen carefully, you can hear the ghost of St0r running
barefoot through the sofa section..

Now, why would anyone want to make a trip from College Station to see
IKEA?

--
VHF void tube of the mind (713) 492-2783
"where you can find the Zeta Greys SAFEWAYING themselves
into the WONDERBREAD *heart* of America!"

[Laura Michelle Atkinson]

I-10 and Antoine. Pull off I-10 at that exit and you'll see that familiar blue and yellow sign straight ahead.

Laura

[Will Bell]

In article <1992Aug25....@slcs.slb.com> atki...@slcs.slb.com (Amy Atkinson) writes:
>Please post your response to this request for the rest of us IKEA
>fans!

The IKEA is located on I-10, just west of I-610, at the Silber exit.
Apparently, it was formerly a STOR. IKEA seems to have bought the operation
lock, stock, and barrel; they were selling old STOR stuff relabeled with
IKEA names and tags.

Thanks to everyone who provided this information to me.

[Paul Havlak]

In article <1992Aug27.1...@tamsun.tamu.edu> be...@cs.tamu.edu (Will Bell) writes:
>The IKEA is located on I-10, just west of I-610, at the Silber exit.
>Apparently, it was formerly a STOR. IKEA seems to have bought the operation
>lock, stock, and barrel; they were selling old STOR stuff relabeled with
>IKEA names and tags.

The story's even better than that. Seems STOR was founded by a
bunch of old IKEA employees and/or consultants, who ripped off much of
the concept. So much that they lost a big suit to IKEA -- I'm not
sure if the grounds were infringment on trade secrets or look-and-feel.
As part of the settlement, IKEA acquired at least the Houston
STOR, perhaps all of them.
I heard this from a full-time member of the news media, so it must
be true. :-)

--paco
--
Paul Havlak Dept. of Computer Science
Graduate Student Rice University, Houston TX 77251-1892
PFC/ParaScope projects (713) 527-8101 x2738 pa...@cs.rice.edu