A Local Favorite: Paw Sox

Here at Benny's, one of our favorite summertime activities is heading to a PawSox ballgame at McCoy Stadium and cheering on our local sports heroes. The stadium is always filled with enthusiastic fans and community sponsors that create an exciting environment for the whole family.

The Pawtucket Red Sox team, the Triple A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, is a local icon that has made baseball history. In 1981, the team played in and won the longest game in professional baseball history at McCoy Stadium, against the Rochester Red Wings. Future Major League Baseball Hall of Famers Cal Ripken Jr. and Wade Boggs played in this game. Do you know how many innings this game was? Leave a comment to tell us!

Click here to watch a video clip about the "Longest Game"

Benny's is a proud sponsor of tonight's Paw Sox game, Junk Ball Night. The first 3,000 fans 14 and under entering McCoy Stadium prior to the 7:05 game will receive a Junk Ball. The Junk Ball also comes with an exclusive coupon to get a free Benny's T shirt with the purchase of any Junk Ball item in the store. We also gave away tickets to tomorrow night's game, featuring a post-game fireworks display. These exclusive tickets include access to the pre-game Red Tent BBQ party with complimentary ballgame food. You can enter to win contests like this on our Facebook page, so look out for the next one soon!

Also a special congrats to PawSox pitcher Matt Fox, who was just selected to be a member of the 2011 International League All-Star Team!

National Hardware Show: No-Mess Plunger

This week's video from the National Hardware Show features an innovative product from P.F. WaterWorks, a great company that creates innovative and sustainable water products. P.F. WaterWork's Sanjay Ahuja gives us a demonstration of the PlungeMax, the No-Mess Plunger. This product allows consumers to plunge the toilet without putting anything in the toilet bowl.

Watch the video presentation of this innovative plumbing device, and please give us feedback by telling us what you think! This product will appear in stores soon!

A Local Favorite: Del's Lemonade

At Benny's, we are happy that customers recognize our 32 convenient, friendly stores as a local favorite. We strongly believe in supporting local business, which is why we are going to highlight some of our local favorites on our new blog. Today, we salute one that has been around for over 50 years: Del's Lemonade.

Del's Lemonade and Refreshments is a family business that has grown through generations. The earliest frozen lemonade was created by great grandfather DeLucia, who sold the refreshing drink at his "mercato locale" (local market) in Naples, Italy, in 1840. His son, Franco, brought the recipe across the seas with him to America, and in 1948, Franco's son Angelo began selling the sensational treat to his neighbors from a lemonade stand in little Cranston, Rhode Island. Following the refreshment's popularity around town, Angelo's family expanded their business through stands, trucks, and franchises.

This summer, Benny's is offering Del's at-home lemonade packets at all of our neighborhood locations in the original lemon and watermelon flavors. In addition, Del's lemonade stands will be set up at select Benny's locations! What's better than sipping on your favorite frozen treat while getting a great deal at your favorite store? Come back to our blog soon for more details on Benny's locations and Del's!

National Hardware Show Video Series

This May, our hardworking team of buyers attended the 2011 National Hardware Show in Las Vegas, NV. This annual show at the Last Vegas Convention Center brings over 100,000 unique products from over 2,300 vendors under one roof, creating a wonderful opportunity for Benny's to find the best items for their loyal customers to purchase locally and conveniently. Show organizers select vendors from nine home improvement segments.

• Hardware & Tools
• Homewares
• Lawn, Garden, & Outdoor Living
• Paint & Accessories
• Plumbing & Electrical
• Storage & Organization
• Tailgate Products
• Energy Efficient
• Pet Products

This year, we took videos of some very help sales representatives explaining the use and originality of unique products that we think our customers may like. Each week, a new video segment will be featured on Benny's Facebook, Twitter, and blog. Please comment on the video, tell us what you think about the product, and if you'd like to see it on the Benny's shelves!

This week's video is the Anti-Steam Ove Glove, a product by Joseph Enterprises. Do you own an Ove Glove? What do you think?

Celebrate Father's Day!

Every June, we dedicate one Sunday to celebrate the love and kindness of fathers, grandfathers, uncles, stepfathers, and other great men who have made a difference in our lives. Father's Day, Sunday June 19, 2011, is a great time to give back to our loved ones who supported us while we were young, and continue to influence our lives today.

Many of us have fond memories of great times with Dad or Grandpa. They taught us how to ride our first bike which they bought at Benny's. Some fathers take their kids to McCoy Stadium to catch the Paw Sox in action, and others drive them to the local Del's Lemonade stand to pick up their favorite summertime treat. Dads bring the family to their favorite Southern New England beach, and treat the gang to Iggy's famous "doughboys and chowdah." These loving men work hard to maintain the house, landscape, tech gadgets, and family cars. Dads cut the grass, plunge the toilet, replace the light bulbs, change the oil, chlorinate the pool... (all with the help of products found at Benny's!)

Dads definitely deserve some recognition! Say "Thanks" to dad this Sunday with a special gift. Benny's is the perfect store to pick up everything you need to make this Father's Day special. Here are some great Father's Day ideas:

• Spend the day hanging out in the backyard after Dad unwraps his favorite outdoor game, like bocce or volleyball.
• Keep him caffeinated with a new coffee maker.
• Style his ride with car mats, license plate covers, air fresheners, and those fantastic ArmorAll detailing products.
• Dad's don't like to stop for directions: Buy him a Garmin portable GPS.
• Buy Dad or Grandpa the Zebco or Pinnacle fishing rod they always wanted.
• Purchase the supplies for Dad's next camping adventure.
• Help Dad get grilling with new Char-Broil or Coleman grilling supplies and fresh meats and produce from Dave's Marketplace.
• Roast some marshmallows together over one of our beautiful outdoor fireplaces.
• Help Dad relax at the beach with a new beach lounger and towel (don't forget the sun block).
• Support your fanatic sports fan with team sports gifts (The Stanley Cup champion Bruins!, Red Sox, Yankees, Celtics, and more!)
• Still stumped!? Let Dad pick something out with a Benny's gift card, available at any denomination.

A special thanks to all the Dads on Father's Day!