A new kind of shopping hit the Detroit area in 2006 with the opening of IKEA. The curious thing was that its coming was heralded far and wide for months before its actual arrival. When it did open, it drew people from outside the Detroit area, even as far away as Ohio and Indiana.
IKEA is different from the traditional furniture and bath/kitchen stores in that it utilizes rooms to showcase its products, sells most everything unassembled, and is reasonably priced. Although true of a mall as well, the IKEA showplace is even good for you; browsing in this store consists of walking down an almost mile-long winding path throughout the building's two stories of merchandise galleries.
While IKEA's cafe was clearly designed to keep shoppers from leaving the building, the food is surprisingly good and cheap! The Swedish meatballs are a particular stand out. All in all, definitely worth the drive.
