Homage to Ikea

Back before it was a global phenomenon our friend, Dan Brown, was introduced to IKEA and was instantly smitten.  What started on a lark became a quest.  He visited IKEA wherever he traveled -

   1.  Seattle, Washington - his very first
   2.  Emeryville, California (San Francisco area)
   3.  San Diego, California
   4-7.  Greater Los Angeles area (4)
   8.  Dallas, Texas
   9.  Sunrise, Florida (Fort Lauderdale area)
  10.  Tampa, Florida
  11.  College Park, Maryland (Baltimore area)
  12.  Stoughton, Massachusetts (Boston area) - during construction
  13.  New Haven, Connecticut
  14.  Manchester, New Hampshire
  15.  Elizabeth, New Jersey
  16.  Paramus, New Jersey
  17-20.  Greater Toronto area (4)
  21.  Montreal Quebec
  22.  Barcelona, Spain - one day before grand opening
  23.  Atlanta, Georgia - special pass on friends and family day
  24.  Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  25.  Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

  .....then we moved to Sweden

I couldn't bear the thought that Dan had come all the way to Sweden and would not see the Home of Ikea so on Monday, August 4, the two of us drove 481km (or 299 miles) one way to take a few photos, eat some meatballs and shop.

  26.  Stockholm, Sweden - World's largest and only round IKEA
  27.  Linköping, Sweden (halfway between Stockholm and Älmhult)
  28.  Älmhult, Sweden - HQ

Dan's requirements for an official IKEA visit -

• Picture taken in front of IKEA
• Eat Swedish meatballs (or in a pinch, buy the frozen meatballs, potatoes, gravy and lingonberry sauce to go)
• Buy something

proof that we were in the hometown of IKEA

LOVE the giant allen wrench in front of the IKEA Distribution Center

requirement #1 - the (new) original IKEA store selfie

IKEA in Sweden has it's own light and dark beer

requirement #2 - Swedish meatballs

the original, original store... closed last year

newly opened, IKEA Through the Ages (museum)

yes, there's even an IKEA Hotel

Dan and Gabby in front of the IKEA Kungens Kurva - World's Largest IKEA (opened in 1965)

cheating a bit... no time in the schedule for meatballs, ate hotdogs instead

Stay tuned for full coverage of IKEA Through the Ages...