Yahoo Finance An IKEA in Shanghai Just Banned Elderly Dating Groups
An IKEA in the Xuhuidistrict ofShanghai just banned elderly singles seeking love amongst home emporiums Swedish meatball and pickled herring-filled cafeteria.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, apparently, an elderly illegal blind-dating group descends upon the IKEA cafeteria, the BBC reported. With their loyalty cards in hand, the single senior citizens would enjoy a cup of free coffee and then spend the rest of their day mingling and, in a sense, speed-dating.
The group has been holding meetings in the IKEA cafeteria for the past five years, but the blind dates recently took a turn. Complaints were filed with the storeabout spitting and quarrels and fights breaking out between the elderly singles in the cafeteria.
#Ikea in Xuhui district has come up against a surprising foe in its attempt to make clients buy and consume food in its dining room. pic.twitter.com/jarRjctXAz
ShanghaiEye (@ShanghaiEye) October 13, 2016
Earlier this month, the store posted a no food, no seating sign at the cafeterias entrance, meant to deter the dating group. All customers will now have to buy food before they are given a place to sit. Since the sign was posted, the amount of people in IKEA's cafeteria has shrunk by nearlyhalf, a security guard told China Daily.
Some stubborn members of the group, however, still cling tothe location, forblind dates enjoyed over thecheapest item on the menu: a croissant for 4 yuan (about $0.60).
We feel like alienssurrounded by youngsters, one of the groups members told Chinas state newspaper. If there is another place in Shanghai where elderly people can gather, we are more than ready to pay twice as much and travel further."
And maybeboth 30 Rock and psychologists are right: IKEA is where love goes to die.
Perhaps IKEA should consider introducing theirDIY-style restauranttoShanghai, which sounds like a much more fun first date than lukewarm cups of coffee.
Related Articles
