Alf becomes interested in Helen so Howard and Edna attempt to help things out. But Alf is feeling insecure around the classy lady and in trying to impress Helen in ruins a nice dinner.
The grocery crew believes they have a genuine shot of winning a bowling competition and the cash that does with it until Murray injures his arm. Howard decides to use a ringer Big Ed instead of girlfriend Edna causing hurt feelings.
Marlene comes to work with a flashy engagement ring and Edna asks to try it on. The jewelry gets stuck and when Edna's mother visits she is excited her daughter is finally getting married. Edna hesitates to clear up the misunderstanding.
Jack is taking a long awaited vacation and seems secure he's not easily replaceable. Edna is performing his duties but right before he's to leave jack learns Edna is in an important meeting and he panics.
Edna is decides to take a vacation to rethink her relationship with Howard. The much younger manager of a competitor spikes Howard's interest getting him to take up yoga and get his ear pierced. The lady lets him down easy.
Howard gets too busy to buy Edna an anniversary gift and hands the job to Alf. He decides a hamster is an appropriate present which gets loose at the store. The situation escalates until they're looking for a mongoose named Billy Bob.
Howard refuses to take Edna to the ballet so she asks Leslie to accompany her. Howard get jealous despite Leslie being gay. Christian gets a deal on beef but learns it's horse meat after customers start buying it.
After Jack goes home with Marlene after a part the rumors begin. Bruno, Marlene's boyfriend, hears them and threatens Jack. Howard decides the only fair thing is to stage a boxing match between the men in the grocery store.
Howard is competing for a promotion and Tiffany Cobb the owner is to make the decision. Ms. Cobb makes it clear she desires Howard and his advancement depends on him reciprocating her sexual advances.
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.