Back ![Blaine Johnson, also known as "Mr. Holiday", displays his life-sized cardboard poster at Zorbaz on Gull Tuesday in Lake Shore. Steve Kohls/Brainerd Dispatch](http://brainerddispatch.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/superphoto/11236214.jpg "Blaine Johnson, also known as "Mr. Holiday", displays his life-sized cardboard poster at Zorbaz on Gull Tuesday in Lake Shore. Steve Kohls/Brainerd Dispatch")
For 17 years Blaine Johnson, also known as “Mr. Holiday” has worked at the Nisswa Holiday Station store. As the night manager, Johnson takes care of the business at the store and is a fixture to motorists who stop by for fuel or food. With his hat positioned slightly to the side, Johnson counts out change to the customers sometimes reaching the thousand of dollars. The change isn’t actually in the thousands of dollars, but that’s all part of the personality that “Mr. Holiday” brings to the station. As you walk out of the station, Johnson thanks you for shopping Holiday.
The look and smile have cemented themselves into the Nisswa psyche and everything seems fine when you drive by the station and you see Johnson greeting a customer. For a local, the best treat of all is when, Johnson begins to count out the change for a stranger and begins to head into the thousands of dollars. At first there is astonishment, but usually the stranger gets the joke and Johnson wishes the person well with a “thank you for shopping Holiday.”
The recognition of Mr. Holiday has taken a new twist, Tom Boehland, who does business with the Holiday corporation became acquainted with Johnson. Boehland decided to take the plan to the next level by having a life-size cardboard replica of “Mr. Holiday” printed and placed in the Edina Holiday Station.
Proud of the Edina poster, Johnson brought one into Zorbaz on Gull. He autographed it and it’s positioned prominently in the Lake Shore restaurant. Next, he placed one in the Pickle in downtown Nisswa. He has two more at home and has plans to distribute them somewhere in the city of Nisswa.
Johnson, who is 42, is proud of the fact that the Nisswa Holiday station is 40 years old and he has worked there 17 of those years.
Comments (16)
Add commentThis guy is awesome!
In a world of crabby register people at gas stations, its quite nice to have this man ring up your items/gas and give you a laugh along the way!
Never met the guy but he sounds like we could use more
like him. My only question is who wrote the letter? Please tell me it was a little child.
pdnet
Your comment/s on this artical, and every other flippin' artical for that matter, make absolutely no contribution to this story whatsoever. Do you have such low self asteem that you need to have the most points? YOU WIN!! Feel better?
wow muskyslayr, who crapped
wow muskyslayr, who crapped in your cheerios?
Muskyslayr probably feels the same way I do
I don't believe there is any good, purposeful reason for the following part of pdnet15's comment, "...My only question is who wrote the letter? Please tell me it was a little child."
Starting a comment off with a compliment and then hiding a snarky little put-down at the end isn't civil, constructive posting behavior.
I occasionally buy gas at the Nisswa Holiday
and Johnson is a lark to deal with. Love it when he flips your $$ bill behind his back into the cash register... sometimes he hits and sometimes he misses.
Disciple
Nobody pooh'd on my poptart but 1800 points and still padding... most of the time his/her comments are nothing more than, "I know you are but what am I?" Sometimes people just need to be told to STHU...
musky and Denton
You two need to get a life, and maybe read some of the comments from the likes of your own kind before making judgement calls. I was not making a compliment, just a statement, and as for the letter, I was commenting on the handwriting, not the content. I forgot that for those with small minds, you have to completely explain every little detail so as to help those like you follow along.
ummm, based on the number of
ummm, based on the number of points "earned", I think PDNet isthe last person to tell someone to get a life . . . .unless, of course, 'getting a life" refers to a 24/7 whine and put down session on a small town newspaper's website.
Good luck PDNet on your next rant. Peace be upon you.
ummmm, pretty sassy
coming from a teacher that just watched the "end of democracy" happen in Wi.
smartguy, please cry me a river.
As for the points, you'll have to ask Denton. I didn't create it, but it sure seems to sour people's milk. And you can put your peace where the sun don't shine!
Blaino
I have had the pleasure of dealing with Blaine since he was working at the Pine River Holiday years ago. It's because of him that I tried to fill my truck up there whenever possible for It was worth the conversation alone. He's a shining star in the customer service field and should hold workshops to assist others with their attitudes.
As for bad handwriting 1- At least he wrote a letter instead of emailing one (it's a lost art, like long math) 2- WTH does bad handwriting have to do with intelligence, most geniuses can't even read their own handwriting
I could care less about
I could care less about points. I only mentioned it as people seem to earn them from each comment they make. Are you saying you are against peace? WWJD? I hope you contempt for anybody with a rational thought doesn't get in the way of wishing someone some peace.
So if 'peace be upon you' in considered adversarial, must I say 'let war and discontent be with you'?
And FB, nowhere did I say it was the end of democracy. In fact, its just the opposite: the people have spoken. That being said, our family will not be traveling to Wisconsin anytime soon for any trips (too bad, as we were looking forward to going to the Dells in the next year or so. . . .and since I apparently have a bunch of money being a public worker, that's a LOT of money that WI is losing.)
Have a wonderful, gripe filled day, boys.
Question
So is pdnet out of the running for the toaster now?
Blaine rocks
I've had the pleasure of interacting with this Blaine for the past 12 years, and he's always been such an awesome guy to talk with. Mr. Holiday, indeed. I actually feel a bit let down when I stop in and he's not working.
Did you know he was also on The History Channel in an episode of MonsterQuest entitled "Giant Fish" for a Northern Pike attack he sustained?
Need more like him.
I worked with Blaine at the Pine River Holiday in the early 90's. Couldn't have asked for a better co-worker. He was always diligent in his duties and had such a positive attitude. Way to go Blaine! The Nisswa store made the right choice hiring you away from P.R.