Check us out, we're a 'Favorite Place!'

We're a number!

Google has just started a program called 'Favorite Places' in which they sent out stickers with a little pixelated QR code on it. QR codes are quite popular in Japan, but are just getting a foothold here in the US. You can download an app for your cell phone that will allow you to scan the QR code (take a picture of it) and it will take you immediately to YoYo Joe's Google Local page with info on our hours, reviews, YouTube videos and more.
Google initially sent out the stickers to about 100,000 businesses, based on how popular their Google Local page was.
I downloaded an app for my iphone and tried it out. It did work (on the 3rd try) - how cool is that?
If you wanna try it, here is our QR code for our Google Local page:

The Red Vest

I first posted this entry last year, but I decided to repost it for this year. Happy Holidays!

For as long back as I can remember, each Christmas Eve my father would go to work wearing a fuzzy red vest.

At first, when I was young, I would see him head off to work wearing the vest. When I was older, and working at Mitchell's, I'd see him arrive at work wearing with the same vest. It was a tradition of his. It's certainly not a particularly spectacular vest, but it was something I looked forward to. One of those signs that Christmas really had arrived.

I called him today to ask him about that vest. He told me that he and his brother (my uncle Jack) both got the vests the same year - about 45 years ago - from a sales rep that they bought Christmas stockings from. The vest is made of the same material that the traditional red Christmas stockings are made out of. He remembers the company's name as 'Renock Corp.' They loved their sales rep, and bought lots and lots of stockings and ornaments from them. Sadly, Jack's vest wore out quickly. My father's suffered a tear one year, to be repaired by an employee. If you shopped on Christmas Eve at Mitchell's anytime over the past 45 years, you probably saw my dad sporting his vest.

UPDATE - My brother Tom found the picture at the top of the page. It was one that my sister Kris had e-mailed him years ago. The pic shows not only my dad sporting his vest, but my brother Tom and me also wearing red vests. I think my mom made those, as I remembered them after I saw the pic. Yes, that's me in the back, next to my dad and Kris. My other sister, Wendy and Tom are in the front.

The pic at the bottom is the vest vintage 2008.

Joe on 'The 10! Show' on Friday

Three or so weeks after our first appearance on NBC10's 'The 10! Show,' we were surprised to hear from them again. They asked Joe to come up to be on Friday's show and highlight some cool last minute toys. Joe showed off the Sandwich Stacking Game from Melissa & Doug, the Hexbug Nano, the Quadrilla Musical set and the brand new Rockboard Scooter. The Scooter is awesome. Joe was just happy to not wreck while riding the scooter...

Check it out:

Open Normal Hours today

Yes, Joe spent the night. That's his car in the parking lot this morning. So, that means the store is fully restocked, all orders checked in, shoveled, salted and ready to go. We're open 10-7 today.

Snow, schmow. We're open till 9.

So, it's the biggest shopping day of the year and we get two feet of snow. Staples (next to us) closed at 2. Pier One (other side of us) closed earlier than that. Brew Ha Ha closed at noon. Not us. We're open. Call us nutty, call us crazy, we're open. Joe's got supplies horded in the back of the store and is prepared to spend the night. See what we do for you folks?

So, if you happened to be out there in the muck and want a break, stop in. It's warm and cozy. We've got holiday music going on and Joe's gonna break out the snacks (& beer) soon.

Happy Holidays!