The oldest of the Chicago IKEA stores (Schaumburg) was allowed to be arranged without the blinder walls until just a few months ago. Having never been to a dif

The oldest of the Chicago IKEA stores (Schaumburg) was allowed to be arranged without the blinder walls until just a few months ago. Having never been to a different IKEA, I was confused upon walking in last week. I did feel as if I was in a rat maze and I was commenting somewhat loudly on this fact to my wife. A saleswoman overheard me and explained that this IKEA, after years of being a rogue outlier, was forced to arrange the store as dictated by the arbiters of shopping wisdom in Sweden. She apologized and expressed regret at the fact. Before this happened, a shopper could see all of the other floors at once and get a good view, from almost anywhere, of the large atrium that pierces the middle of the store. Now we get to look at painted hardboard panels advertising different IKEA wares. Plus I have no idea where I am because I can't easily view the open area. Not an improvement.