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Denmark: Blocked by a snowstorm and spent the night at an IKEA

They chose beds to sleep on

china cel 334 5 DENMARK, world

What would happen if bad weather suddenly broke out and you were trapped in an IKEA department store? You would sleep there!

Thirty inches of snow on Wednesday night in northern Denmark was enough to cause panic. But those who were at the IKEA store in Aalborg, had a unique experience. Specifically, 6 customers and 24 employees of the store were forced to spend the night inside the Swedish furniture store.

In fact, according to Michelle Barrett, one of the employees at the public radio station DR, they took full advantage of an unusual scenario. "We just found the situation very funny, because we probably will not experience it again," he said.

Wednesday's bad weather was the heaviest snowfall Denmark has seen since 2018, according to DR. On the first day of December, the Nordic country was hit by 20% of the snowfall usually recorded in Denmark throughout the month.

They chose whatever bed they wanted

So imagine being trapped in a store with infinite furniture for every taste and enough food. According to Peter Elmoz, store manager at Ekstra Bladet, a Danish tabloid newspaper, it encouraged everyone to "choose exactly the bed they always wanted to try".

How did they spend the night?

So how did they spend their night? They watched TV and enjoyed stuffed pork, hot cocoa and risotto, a Danish rice pudding served over Christmas, according to DR.

As everyone lay on the beds they had chosen, Elmoz said he walked upstairs, singing them goodnight. In the morning they drank hot coffee and freshly baked cinnamon rolls.

Eric Bangsgaard, one of the excluded customers, said he was impressed by the experience provided by the staff. "It was fantastic considering the conditions," he told Ekstra Bladet.

He and his wife Hane went to IKEA that night with some friends to dine on the cafeteria's Christmas menu, he said. Immediately after arriving at the store, the 75-year-old realized that they may have difficulty returning home.

However, despite their exclusion, Bangsgaard said there was a positive mood among the excluded customers and employees. "We were very happy to have a shelter," he added.

Barrett, a toy clerk, was also grateful for the safe, warm sleeping place. "It's much better than sleeping in your car," he told DR. "It was nice and warm and we're glad they let us stay."