If you're a regular at your local Waffle House, you definitely should stop by this week.

As part of a chain-wide promotion, each store will honor its top 20 customers.

In all, that will add up to roughly 31,000 customers who will be singled out at local stores. The promotion is tied to National Waffle Week, which is this week. Who knew?

For those of you who were left holding Iatria gift certificates this week when the chain went out of business, there are a number of local salons who are stepping up with offers to honor the certificates.

One, ROI on Oberlin Road in Raleigh, is even offering to honor them at 100 percent of face value.

To view the full (and ever-growing) list, click here.

I got a press release this week about the 2010 Entertainment Book. Apparently, schools and other nonprofits are selling them now. They'll start showing up in retail stores in November. As always, the Entertainment Books have a mix of local and national store coupons.

Among this year's many offerings: BOGO lunch at TGI Friday's, BOGO pizzas at Domino's, free ice cream at Sonic, $10 off American Airlines Fare, 50 off a three-night vacation booked through Expedia, $10 off $40 at Radio Shack, $10 off $50 at Aeropostale.

And, now the good news: I've got one to give away. To enter: the random drawing, post a comment on this thread including your full name, the town in which you live AND (cue the scary music!) your deepest, darkest shopping secret. Enter by noon on Friday. I'll pick a winner then.

It looks like there will be a quick turnaround for the Stool Pigeons spot on Glenwood South in Raleigh.

Robert and Daniel Stapleton, who own the nearby Napper Tandy's Irish Pub, have signed a deal to open a sports-themed bar in the space next month, just in time for football season. Stool Pigeons closed last week, following neighboring businesses Enoteca Vin and the Hard Times Cafe. (Sauced is already open in the Enoteca Vin spot, and a 24-hour diner simply called The Diner is under construction in the Hard Times space.)

Robert Stapleton said he plans to keep the pool tables and games that Stool Pigeons regulars like, but renovate the look of the place. He also plans to put in 30 plasma TVs, including a small TV in each booth.

The new bar, which will simply be called The Downtown Sports Bar & Grill, will not be open for lunch during the week, Stapleton said. He's hoping to open by mid-September.

I do think that there are some good bargains to be found at Big Lots if you are willing to go into the store with an open mind and search around a bit.

For those of you who are fans of the discounter, here's some good news.

The company has announced it will launch a loyalty club this fall in which shoppers who are members of the Buzz Club will get a 10 percent discount on purchases of $20 or more. That's like a $2 coupon without the clipping!

Another interesting development from Starbucks:

Like so many other retailers, it is now offering a freebie on your birthday.

Of course, there's a catch: you need to create a profile on the Starbucks Web site. And you need to opt-in to get e-mails. But if a year's worth of Starbucks e-mails is worth a free latte on your big day, here's the link.

(And, since I get asked this a lot, here's that other birthday freebie site I'm always talking about.)

Attention parents: now would be a good time to clean out the closet, the spare bedroom and the car.

Toys R Us is preparing to launch a trade-in program in which you can score a 20 percent discount on new items when you trade in your used cribs, car seats and other baby products. I don't think the deal applies to clothes, though. (Check out the Mom2Mom consigment sale list if you have clothes to sell...)

According to the Wall Street Journal, the Toys R Us promotion will run Aug. 28 (that's Friday!) through Sept. 20.

You all have asked for it, so here I am!

I've started Tweeting.

I've installed a really cool scrolling box on the left-hand side of my page that will display my latest Tweets.

And, if you're looking to follow me on Twitter, I'm @sue_stock.

Follow me to the deals!

Even though it's still hot out, Krispy Kreme is getting ready for fall by bringing back those doughnuts shaped like cute little footballs.

Football doughnuts are available through Sept. 30.

Beginning Oct. 1, they will be available on weekends only through Super Bowl Sunday (Feb. 7, 2010). You can also order them in advance and can get them made with your own team colors if you give 48 hours' notice.

The Clayton Wal-Mart at 805 Town Center Blvd. will host its grand re-opening tomorrow following a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8 a.m.

The store has undergone a three-month remodel.

Now the store has a new layout, wider aisles and a new interior design.