My wife and I are long-time fans of IKEA. We have bookshelves, dressers, and toys from IKEA, and though I’ve been burned a few times—holes that don’t line up with the right bolts, that sort of thing—my overall impression is that you get what you pay for. Actually, at IKEA, you get more than what you pay for, compared to other places. With the recession hitting, it’s no surprise to me that IKEA’s numbers are up. I’m not talking about sales, but about parents dropping off their kids at Smaland, IKEA’s free childcare center. Smaland’s numbers are up 20 percent this year, according to the Times, and apparently lots of moms and dads are using the place as a free babysitter.
With the kids safely deposited in a colorful ball pit, parents are heading off for a romantic hiatus over meatballs, or just coffee (surprisingly good) and free wi-fi. It’s the best cheap date going.
And if IKEA-toddler-meatball scene is too tame for you, don’t fret. The Wall Street Journal reports that strip clubs, out of the goodness of their hearts, are welcoming in horndogs on a budget by dropping cover charges and lowering drink prices.