Shanghai IKEA’s new challenge: Blind dating among the elderly

On Oct. 5, the IKEA store in Shanghai's Xujiahui district posted a letter to customers. The letter stated that the store's cafeteria now requires customers to order food before sitting down in cafeteria seats. The policy is in reponse to an elderly blind dating group that occupies seats for a long time, consuming only their own food, brought from home. Some members of the group also spit and even quarrel in the cafeteria, disturbing other customers. To maintain order, IKEA has decided to implement the new rule. However, the rule may not entirely fix the problem. If so determined, many of the elderly patrons may choose to spend 10 RMB on the cheapest food item available and sit in the cafeteria all day long.