Highland Appliance Superstore (originally in Highland Park, Michigan) ran a television advertisement in the 1980s for its Washington’s Birthday sale. Benjamin Franklin called George Washington on the telephone to tell him about Highland’s sale. Washington then remarked to Franklin that “a penny saved is a penny earned.” After a few more aphorisms, Franklin said:
 
“Never eat spinach with a stranger!”
 
Washington gave a puzzled look to end the commercial. The saying is probably nonsense, but some have reasoned that it’s because spinach gets stuck to one’s teeth.
     
 
Wikipedia: Highland Superstore
Highland Superstore was an American consumer electronics and home appliance chain. It was founded in 1933 as Highland Appliance by Harry Mondry in Highland Park, Michigan. By the end of the 1970s, the chain had 18 stores. Its headquarters were in Plymouth, Michigan.
 
The chain went public in 1985, at which point it was the second-largest American electronics retailer behind Circuit City. Despite its number of locations, the chain was financially troubled in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1990, Highland hired an investment firm to decide the chain’s future. At this point, it had also expanded into New York and Texas.
 
Highland filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 1992, and liquidated its last 30 stores in 1993.
   
Google Groups: alt.support.shyness
Words of Wisdumb
Pissed Off
4/10/04
“Never eat spinach with a stranger.”
This was from a commercial—I don’t think it was supposed to make sense.
 
YouTube
Highland Appliance Superstore Washington’s B-day commercial
rochestra
Uploaded on Aug 19, 2007
Here is a funny commercial from 1989. Highland Superstore advertising their Washington’s Birthday sale.
COMMENTS
KingRoper 1 year ago
THANK YOU! I have been saying ‘Never eat spinach with a stranger!’ to end a pointless argument for most of my life. I thought it was a Pres. Day ad and that’s what reminded me of it today. Now… Perry Chair? Anyone?
durhay 6 years ago
I can finally show my wife this commercial after years of saying “... and never eat spinach with a stranger”
 
Impossible Funky
Monday, November 26, 2007
Never Eat Spinach with a Stranger
From one of the best group of ads I can remember; the classic Highland Appliance spots from Detroit.
Posted by Mike White at 2:08 PM
COMMENTS
djesno said…
i remember the ads from when i was, oh, seven or eight years old (thirty years ago). i sprinkle “never eat spinach with a stranger” into conversation occaisionally and i’m unpreturbed that i’m the only one that gets the joke. cool as hell to actually see the ad spot again. i showed it to my wife to prove to her that i’m not totally insane (she, i’m sure, still thinks that i am).
11:25 PM
Audra said…
I do that too! Throw “Never eat spinach with a stranger” out there once in a while. No one ever knows what I’m talking about. They’ll laugh, because it’s so random, but no one ever says “I remember that!!” Ahh well.
11:43 AM
 
ChaCha
Where does the term ‘never eat spinach with a stranger’ come from?
9 months ago
ANSWERS
9 months ago
It means they won’t tell you when you have spinach stuck in your teeth!
   
The Art of Manliness
20 Aphorisms That I Thought Were Dumb as a Boy But Now Appreciate as a Grown Man
by AOM TEAM on JANUARY 8, 2014
(...)
COMMENTS
Matt London January 8, 2014 at 4:58 pm
“Never eat spinach with a stranger.”