I'm going to spoil it now: Nope, the new IKEA Arcadia doesn't serve any food that we're used to at the warehouses. I was really disappointed.
The 9,000-square-foot space is an expansion of something called IKEA Plan & Order Point with Pick-up at the Santa Anita Mall -- basically a satellite location where people can consult with a specialist on what to buy because, let's face it, shopping at IKEA can be overwhelming.
The newly opened Planning Studio is what the Swedish retailer calls a "small format" store. They are a fraction of the size of the large warehouses IKEA is known for, without dozens of aisles or a billion items to browse through. At the Santa Anita Mall, there's also no huge blue and yellow signs everywhere (except at the entrance).
I visited the latest tiny IKEA this week to check out what the hype is and what you may expect.
It might've been just me thinking that I would encounter a huge IKEA sign or their employees in the outside vicinity of the mall, but there was very little fanfare when I approached the area. It could be because I was there on a weekday. But don't expect a large sign like the other stores.
The IKEA is near the entrance by Macy's and I almost missed the sign when I drove through the parking lot. The upside is that there's parking just outside the doors so you don't have to lug your items too far.
For me, IKEA shopping is a lot: Too many items to keep track of and too many models on the showroom floor, which make trying to find and order what you really like into a bit of a lift. Too much noise. Too many options at Burbank. Too much space. Don't believe me? Let us not forget the YouTube show IKEA Heights, which was entirely shot at the Burbank location.
When I entered the tiny IKEA in Arcadia, I couldn't believe it was smaller than the Zara across the mall. In fact, it's about 2% of the size of the Burbank warehouse. To picture it, it kinda of felt like a department store's home section, and I can't believe I'm saying this, a bit underwhelming.
But maybe this is all OK for those shoppers who are overwhelmed with the IKEA warehouse experience.
It offers seasonal items -- the company says about 1,000 -- that are mostly kitchen tools, bedroom decor and pillows, and a few decorations for the bathroom and living areas. A nice young associate told me they plan to switch the items they sell there every season, but they will primarily keep it for popular kitchen, bathroom and bedroom supplies.
If you continue browsing through the store and flow into the design studio area, there will be kitchenware items in the back. And if they don't have an item that you want, tiny IKEA can order it for you.
The associate told me that since they opened the small format store it gets packed with customers. People are just curious to see IKEA in the mall and possibly pick up some stuff.
After being 20 minutes in the store, I put my reporter's notebook away and actually began to browse. I felt like I had a "Target" moment - when you go into the store not needing anything and you come out with a few items. That was me.
I spotted some bookshelves I needed, took those home and bought breakfast in bed tables that were on sale. I felt accomplished because the trip ended up being useful.
That's what IKEA might want you to experience: walk in not knowing you really need something and then you remember you have to replace some glassware.