TODAY producer embraces the hug revolution

Posted: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 12:14 PM by Vidya Rao

From TODAY producer Amy Unell

While I was filming this hugging story at Mikey's Hug Deli in Santa Monica Beach, a little girl about 5 or 6 years old with a slight British accent walked up to me and placed her order with a smile, "I'd like a warm and fuzzy hug, please." I replied that it cost two compliments. She looked me right in the eyes and said, "I like your bracelet, and you have a nice smile."

We hugged it out, and then she grabbed her mom's hand and started to walk away. But suddenly, she turned around. "I'd like to give you another compliment please," she said confidently. "I like you."

A little girl who I'd known for a mere 30 seconds with a heart of gold -- now that's the power of the Hug Deli.

If you're hungry for a hug, check out Mikey's Hug Deli in Santa Monica. E-mail hugdeli@gmail.com for hours of operation.

Have you hugged any strangers lately? Tell us your take on the power of a hug.

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Comments

What a great piece! I think the Today Show needs to do a story specifically on the "Hug Deli." I want to learn more about this unique and powerful place. I definitely think the Today Show should do more stories like this. It's fun to watch. Hug it up!

Hug Deli Fan, Kansas City, Missouri (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 1:36 PM)

Wow! What a great story. That is definitely one way to bring a nation closer together. But then again, we all need it. A hug is priceless, and so are the endorphins and elated facial expressions that come with the passing moment.

Leah Karchin, Overland Park, KS (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 1:50 PM)

I liked this so much, I hugged my laptop.

Kevin Salwen, Atlanta, GA (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 2:38 PM)

would love to see more about the people hugging at the beach. what was that all about??

Nicholas, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 2:39 PM)

Great story...I wish I could get some hugs out here in Virginia. Bring the Hug Deli out east!

Claire, Arlington, VA (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 2:39 PM)

You're the best Amy! HUGS

Carrie A., washington, dc (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 2:47 PM)

I am a hug ambassador and I LOVE the Hug Deli! What a fantastic idea! Spread the hugs.

Jen, Reno, Nev. (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 2:52 PM)

Major props to the Hug Deli! And major props to the Today Show for airing this piece. What an amazing story, and it goes to show how great a hug can be. I'd love to see more Hug Deli and more stories like this.

Shannon Urtnowski, Newport Beach, CA (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 2:58 PM)

Great idea. I think we need to franchise - open Hug Delis in the places that need them most, like Michigan State right now.

Barney Fife, Mayberry, NC (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 3:26 PM)

What an uplifting and fun story! I hope the Hug Deli takes off and I hope the Today show does more stories like this one. Nice job!

Talia, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 3:32 PM)

Love this story--please more just like this!!! Hug and hug often :)

martes, New York, NY (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 4:16 PM)

Thats awesome! Glad people are finally catching on!

Jesse G, Venice, CA (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 4:16 PM)

I am a proud Mikey's Hug Deli Hug Ambassador. I cannot begin to explain how much fun it is to hug random strangers. I leave the Deli with an indelible smile on my face and I feel so good, warm and fuzzy for days! I'd love to see more Hug Deli on the Today Show! The idea needs to spread nationwide so more people can derive as much pleasure from hugging as we do!

Daina Falk, Beverly Hills, CA (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 4:19 PM)

Brings a warm-fuzzy feeling to my heart.
This story embraces the true meaning of "feeding the soul" - Keep it coming!!!

Erica

Erica, Sherman Oaks, CA (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 4:38 PM)

Love it!

Sarah, Boston, MA (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 4:54 PM)

Love the Hug Deli! It's always fun to hug it out at Mikey's Hug Deli!

Sarah, Santa Monica, CA (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 5:06 PM)

i can't wait to reach out and hug someone!

michelle, los angeles, ca (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 5:18 PM)

Italians already know this.

Michael Cignetti, Gig Harbor, WA (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 5:30 PM)

What an excellent concept. The World could use more hug deli's people need to feel at least for a moment that they are cared about. definitely need them back east!

Jenifer Weber (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 5:44 PM)

Hugs to the Today Show for doing such a timely piece and it was nice to see the etiquette coach giving examples of the different types of hugs that I can now use...

Ken Landreaux, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 5:50 PM)

my whole family is made of chronic huggers. i'd be lost without physical expression through hugs. Just one more reason to be happy with the direction Obama is taking our nation -- maybe through hugs, we won't appear like such mega war-mongers.

Alison, Ocala Florida. (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 6:05 PM)

Is there anything better? Don't tell my wife, though!

Gerard Hilinski, Macedonia, OH (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 6:11 PM)

We definitely need more hugs in this ecomomy. Here's my hug to everyone who's reading this... :-)

Kathy M., Fontana, CA (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 6:11 PM)

Too much sadness in the world today. A hug just puts a smile on everyone's face. I am smiling right now just thinking of getting a hug. What the world needs now is peace and love.

Fran Sudano, Perryville, Maryland (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 6:19 PM)

One the first date with my now life partner over 14 years ago she gave me a hug when we said goodnight. I knew then she was the one. I think the world would be a much better place if there were more hugs.

Robert Wieseneck, Palm Bay, FL (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 6:27 PM)

I personally would be quicker to give a hug than a handshake. A hug really does give one a warm and fuzzy feeling. People on the East coast are a huggy bunch!

Pat Merrill , Millinocket, Maine (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 6:43 PM)

Simple and positive! The world needs more great ideas like this!

J Cook, Long Beach, CA (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 6:50 PM)

Simple and free! Let's make the world a better place one hug at a time.

Katie, Dallas, Texas (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 10:01 PM)

These are the kind of good stories we need to see more of on the Today Show. Keep 'em coming!

Molly, Carmel, CA (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 10:54 PM)

Great story! I wish it had been on in the first hour. We need stories like this now more than ever. Thank you!

Bob, Austin, TX (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 11:06 PM)

Dear Amy,
This is an amazing, simple and sweet concept that we can all use for the better. Thanks for sharing!
HUGS!

Sarah / New York, NY (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 11:38 PM)

Awesome!! Hug it out! Let's hear more about the story behind Mike's Hug Deli. How did it start?

Big K, NY, NY (Sent Tuesday, April 07, 2009 11:48 PM)

We're temporarily living in New Zealand where hugs are the handshake. We love it!

Valerie, Timaru, NZ (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 4:49 AM)

Thanks for starting my day with a hug! I will definitely check out the Hug Deli on my next trip to the coast. HUGS to you Amy, for letting the world know the power of a friendly embrace.

K.O. Strohbehn Leawood, KS (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 6:53 AM)

Sorry - I'm an anti-hugger. The worst is the handshake pull where the hugger pulls the victim into the awful one-arm hug, knocking the victim off-balance, if he resists.

David Corbett (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 7:56 AM)

So great to see such an insightful and well done piece highlighting our inate need for touch. Life is so hectic and we are constantly bombarded with negative media that getting back to the basics can make all the difference in the world. Well Done!!

Jennifer, Westwood Hills, KS (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 8:43 AM)

I like it.. Jim

Jim Meridian, Idaho (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 10:46 AM)

Love it! Great piece! Would love to see more stories like this! The hug is the way our company has been greeting our customers. Scares them at first, but by the end everyone is hugging everyone! Never underestimate the power of the hug! I think the Hug Deli needs to go nation wide! It would be a huge success in Dallas! Hugs!!

Elizabeth McCurry, Dallas, Texas (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 11:07 AM)

Great story! The Today Show should do more like these. There's nothing better than starting the morning with a big hug and a laugh.

Marissa P, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 12:53 PM)

I think I need to make a trip out to Santa Monica to experience the Hug Deli for myself...sounds fun!

new york, ny (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 1:21 PM)

I only caught the end of this piece yesterday, but was interested in catching the whole thing, because I LOVE giving hugs. I have to share a story. About a year ago, I went to the grocery store to pick up a few things, and started talking to the woman in line behind me. She mentioned she could really go for the chocolate cake on the cover of a magazine because she was having a hard day, and then she added it had not only been a hard day, but also a heart-breaking day. It seemed like she wanted to cry and I couldn't help not hugging her, so I did. She was surprised and kept telling me over and over that I was so nice and so sweet and that she had just been thinking about how this world is in such a mess and people don't care about each other anymore and here I was giving her a hug. A perfect stranger! She went on to share that her husband has been in and out of the hospital for the past seven years, and he was going to have to go in the next day for a blood transfusion. I looked at her funny, and told her to look at my shirt (I was wearing the t-shirt I got from a blood drive two days before). She got teary-eyed again. We talked a bit more,I gave her another hug and left, but it was a really heart warming experience. I could go on about hugs, but I wanted to share this experience because despite all the hugs I've given before, I had never given one to someone I had not already met. We all could use more hugs a day!!

Oralia Alamillo Johnson, Madera, CA (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 1:24 PM)

THANK YOU for sharing this positive story! We need more stories like this to keep our spirits up while we work on the serious issues at hand today. Thanks Today Show!

Fiona, San Francisco CA (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 1:41 PM)

good stuff! i LOVE a good hug!

Aly, Brooklyn, NY (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 1:45 PM)

I've always been a hugger....HUG ON!!!

Diana Gulla, Boonton, N. J. (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 2:11 PM)

LOVED this story. LOVE the hug deli.

HUG IT OUT!

Katie, Chicago, IL (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 2:22 PM)

what a great story! -- let the hug revolution begin

Elizabeth, Dallas, TX (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 2:42 PM)

Aw, what a cute story. I am totally inspired to hug!

Julia, Cambridge, MA (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 2:56 PM)

We were raised on hugs and kisses. It's a staple in the South! So glad it's catching on everywhere else!!

Pam Dufrene (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 3:00 PM)

this is FANTASTIC! people need more hugs these days :)

Jess (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 3:06 PM)

Everyone could use a good hug! While real news is great and often what we want, this story gives us a little more of what we need in life. Love the Hug Cafe!

Sarit, New York (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 3:30 PM)

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