Shop Talk: Holiday shopping season starts ramping up

With Halloween behind us and holiday shopping in its early stages, things seem pretty calm around here.

I have a few fun tidbits for you today, but things will surely be picking up on Shop Talk as we get into the full swing of holiday shopping.

New Yakima restaurant scheduled to open Nov. 16

Bob's Burgers and Brew is scheduled to open in a week, according to owner Jeff Roberts.

The restaurant has hired most of its staff, which is currently in training.

As I mentioned before, the Yakima location will be the first one east of the Cascades for the Western Washington chain.

Walgreens opening was sudden

You might have noticed that the third Walgreens store at 6400 W. Nob Hill Blvd. is now open.

The West Valley store, located next to the new Walmart, opened at 1 p.m. Oct. 30.

The opening was so sudden, the information didn't reach some employees at its other stores, as I learned when I tried to get a phone number for the new store. When I reached a clerk at Walgreens' store at Westpark Shopping Center on 40th and Summitview avenues, she told me that the store wasn't open yet.

So I drove up to the new store and saw that it was indeed open.

With the confusion behind us, the store is now open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Keep those holiday shopping stories coming

Thanks to Shop Talk readers who have already shared their holiday shopping strategies. There are some interesting ideas out there.

I'd still like to hear from the rest of you. Do you have a strategy for saving money for gifts? Are you a hard core shopper on the day after Thanksgiving?

Finally, I would love any thoughts on this question: How can retailers best meet your holiday shopping needs this year?

Share your story by contacting me via the information below this column. Be sure to include a phone number and e-mail where we can reach you. You can also share it with me on Facebook and Twitter, too. (And bonus points for those who can write their story within the 140 character limit on Twitter.)

Can't get enough of the Reporter's Notebook? Head to the Shop Talk blog (www.yakimaherald.com/shoptalk), Twitter page (www.twitter.com/shoptalkexpress) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/pages/YHR-Shop-Talk/54463033365).

Until next time, happy shopping.

* Mai Hoang's Reporter's Notebook is published Mondays in the Your Money section. To reach her, call 509-577-7685 or e-mail mhoang@yakimaherald.com.