This weekend, in honor of Independence Day, I went shopping at Ikea. The Swedish superstore opened in Brooklyn on July 18. Mari and I have been there three times already. And today, as Mari waited on line to pay for six bowls, a pack of "Groggy" coasters and a banana-leaf basket, I waited on line at the Ikea Bistro. There were about 150 people there with me.
"Is this the line for a cinnamon bun?" one lady asked, determining whether or not she would join the line. And then, as she walked away, she looked at me and mouthed, with a wink, "I don't need it that bad." Other people apparently disagreed. A three-shelf rack that was supposed to display cinnamon-bun six packs was completely bare.
An orange-vested parking lot security guard, who must have ducked in on his break, hoping for a hot dog, but finding an achingly long line instead, and frustrated co-workers unwilling or unable to serve him, had a similar reaction: "This is ridiculous," he said. He walked away empty handed.
After 20 minutes on line, and a whole lot of time spent listening to the Ikea soundtrack: UB40's "Red, Red Wine" and Bonnie Raitt's "Something to Talk About," I finally made it to the front.
I looked at the woman on the other side of the counter. She looked right back at me. "Burnt out," she said. "I am burnt out."
I acknowldged the people behind me -- way, way behind me.
"This line?" she said. "From 12:00. It doesn't stop." It was 6:30 at that point. The store closes at 10. She said she'd be there until 11.
How many hot dogs do you sell? I asked.
"Countless," she answered, after a pause.
"I'll have four," I said.
At fifty cents a pop, how could I resist?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comments:
...and speaking of hot dogs, Grays Papaya on 72nd and Broadway has a "recession special" and you get two hot dogs and a drink for $3.25. not bad. With the money you save, you can hop on down the street to Buttercup and buy a $5 cupcake.
Post a Comment