Construction in front of Cobbs grocery has slowed business and Howard is told to layoff two staff. As he worries over the decision he gets to know his employees even better making the job more difficult.
Edna decides to make Howard jealous by making up a pretend boyfriend. However the fabrication spins out of control as a jealous Banister wants to know more details about his rival.
Howard hires a friend Curtis who's down on his luck as the store butcher. But the man's abrasive ways soon offend fellow employees and customers. Edna makes Howard realize that Curtis has always used and bullied him.
Hospital is where Howard is for hernia operation and his friends rally around him with encouragement. Howard's roommate has endless stories of malfeasance and disaster deepening his pre-surgical anxiety
Howard's niece Denise arrives to visit, heartbroken after a breakup. Howard tries to think of ways to cheer her up and decides Leslie should take her out on a date.
Murray has one last scouting badge to earn and it involves wilderness skills. His dad is unavailable so Howard volunteers to go in his place. Things go well until the bear shows up and Howard runs away leaving Murray alone.
Dobbs grocery loses an important cookie account and Howard struggles to find a replacement. A homeless woman Gert offers a recipe which proves to be a sensation. When Gert dies the staff learns she was actually a millionaire.
Margo, a friend of Edna's, finds Jack interesting and with Howard's encouragement they go out. Margo's jealous boyfriend finds out and shows up at the store making unsubtle threats regarding Jack. Howard tries to remedy the situation.
It's employee review time and Howard thinks he deserves a big raise. When it's not forthcoming Howard must decide whether the time has come to find a different job.
Jack is assigned to create the new floor display by Howard even though Edna believes she could do better. Edna uses her skills to make her own in a way to get Howard to appreciate her work more.
The employees' slush fund has been building up and can't decide how to spend it. Howard volunteers to invest then surprises them all by buying a racehorse.
When Howard invests Edna's savings into a questionable gold mine she's convinced he has a gambling addiction. A visit to a psychiatrist does little good as Howard doesn't think he has a problem. Edna still wants her cash back.
George, an former boyfriend of Edna's, shows up to help celebrate her birthday. Over dinner Howard learns Edna and George were once married. Howard fails to control his jealousy.
Howard and her other co-workers were think Marlene has joined a cult. Howard decides to infiltrate the organization in disguise to convince Marlene to quit.
Edna suggest Cobb's offer child care to parents as to they shop and it's a success. At the end of one day though a child is not picked up and remains mute as to his name or address. The staff struggles with what to do.
Howard learns Viker has been kicked out by his wife and is sleeping at the store. Howard offers to house him temporarily with disastrous results. Banister works to reconcile the married couple and get his sanity back.
Howard receives a chain letter and declines to continue despite the urging of his superstitious co-workers. Then accidents start to occur at Cobbs and Marlene heads to the hospital. Howard starts to rethink his actions.
After an unpleasant encounter with mobster Meatloaf Rothko the police ask Howard to wear a wire and meet with Rothko. Reluctant, Howard's staff urges him to do it and be a hero.
The city plans on removal of a stately old tree and Howard galvanized Cobbs employees to protest. Howard, Viker, Leslie, and Jake are thrown in jail and have to plead their case before a judge.
While Edna is on vacation Molly, a woman from Howard's past, shows up with a boy who she claims is Howard's son. While Bannister adjusts to the idea of being a dad he also bonds with the teen Mickey.
Employee Jan's niece Gilga is distraught as her visa has expired. Jack agrees to marry the attractive woman to allow her to stay in the country.
Howard is worried about not being a big success when he decides to attend his class reunion. His rival Lester looks young plus he's wealthy with a gorgeous wife. Howard becomes angry with envy.