Mobel Buss is amazing upon first sight. It is a gigantic retail store set in the midst of houses and farmland. It is the closest thing one could imagine to IKEA, without being IKEA.
Architecturally, IKEA is a big blue and yellow concrete box. Mobel Buss is a feast for the eyes, with a three-story fully lit, glassed-in oversized semi-circular entrance. Once inside you notice a spiral walkway leading to the second and third levels. This concrete walkway is reminiscent of those adorning Qualcomm stadium, but it only goes up about thirty feet. It is unique among department stores, in my experience. There is a bank of elevators well-signed for those in need.
This store has inventory !! It is primarily a very well-stocked furniture store, as the name implies, but it also carries regular merchandise for the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. There is a complete kids section, and once again, like IKEA it has a restaurant tucked away on the third floor.
It seems to be well-managed, too. The displays are organized and logical, and even the Christmas merchandise display was already up and bustling with customers. I was approached by sales staff offering assistance, unlike IKEA where a staffer needs to be tackled to be asked a simple question.
The prices are neither bargain basement nor out of reach for the average wage earner. Can it get any better than this? I don't see how. read more
