I have it straight from a real IKEA employee that the store in East Palo Alto (excuse me, "Ravenswood") actually is the most confusing IKEA ever built. I had always suspected, but I hadn't ever put my finger on why that store is so terrible.
The answer turns out to be that they built a contorted layout to fit it onto the tiny plot of land they bought, which is normally supposed to include a big open parking lot out front. But instead they built that horrific warren of parking garages, which directs you to the exit of the store rather than the entrance. So that's why whenever you go in there all of the escalators and stuff seem designed to prevent you from getting to the showroom.
They think it's killing their business--- that store grosses millions less than the Oakland store (!) and they may decide to close it in the next few years. Talk about your million dollar usability problems!
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