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There are lots of bizarre, misspelled and downright baffling business names in Los Angeles, but there’s one establishment in particular — a liquor store near the corner of Fairfax and Olympic — that I’ve been wanting to do a post about for awhile. Given the popularity of yesterday’s weird names post, I figured I’d strike while the proverbial iron was hot. And here it is (drumroll, please) … 
Ta-dahh! Yep, there’s a lot going on here: many weird business signs are mistakes, but everything about YAMKL seems intentional. From its off-puttingly humble name (”you are my king” … it’s practically groveling) to the dropped-down “R,” which is painted on, in case you were wondering, and not a sign malfunction (in other words, the “R” is in no danger of falling off and crushing passers-by). So what’s the deal with the “R”? Your guess is as good as mine, but I submit this as a possibility: it’s bowing to its king (not pictured in sign). What do you think?
Wait, there’s more! A few weeks ago I was in the Houston Hobby Airport, and came across this quiant little eatery:
Again, pretty baffling, I hope you’ll agree. What could it mean? The way I see it, there are five possibilities:
1) A few years ago, the restaurant was just called “Hunan.” It fell on hard times, went out of business, but then found some new venture capital and rose from the ashes of its failure to a glorious grand re-opening in the Houston Airport.
2) It refers to their most popular menu item. Phoenix fried rice, anyone?
3) Kind of like how In-n-Out is run by born-again Christians and, until recently, printed Bible verses on their cups and french fry baskets, Hunan’s owners are part of some end-of-days cult. One day soon a giant flaming bird will visit their restaurant and kill everyone.
4) They never clean their grill, so your food is literally plucked from the ashes.
5) It’s an oblique reference to airplanes?
That’s all I got — any other ideas?
OK, one more. I ran across this place in Gainesville, Florida years ago, and while it doesn’t raise many questions in my mind (other than why?), it’s definitely notable:
Needless to say, it’s not a gourmet hotspot. (Link to original photo.)
Comments (100)
Comment
It look liek the R in liquor is tring to kill it self
posted by ih on 1-24-2008 at 11:46 am
i ran across two excellent business names over the past month while traveling for work - “community liquor” in san bernardino and “family pawn” outside of roanoke, virginia
posted by bob on 1-24-2008 at 11:51 am
I thought the liquor store sold take home brew kits (”You are making liquor”)
This is kind of the polar opposite of bad, but that sign alone made me think of the best liquor store name ever “G. Will Liquors”… say it fast.
posted by Kevin on 1-24-2008 at 11:55 am
There’s a place in the town I live called “Okki Dokki Taiwanese Cuisine.”
We also used to have a Hunan II (that’s a 2) but no Hunan I. Maybe there’s one Hunan somewhere in the world that all other Hunans must bow to? Like some sort of king of liquor?
posted by David on 1-24-2008 at 11:58 am
Here is my take on the Liquor sign is an example of poor graphic design.
Often times, many people feel that you have to fill or balance out all fo the space in a rectangle. If the R were at the end of the word, the whole bottom right hand corner would be empty and to some, this looks strange. They seem to be going for some sort of effect of making the R look like it is falling off the sign and hanging by a wire or string.
posted by Daniel on 1-24-2008 at 12:01 pm
Here’s a weird name:
Houston Hobby Airport
posted by Bassman on 1-24-2008 at 12:09 pm
@Bassman–
William P. Hobby, Former Governor of Texas and past publisher of the Houston Chronicle.
posted by RSN on 1-24-2008 at 12:14 pm
I agree with the first comment about the R looking like it’s committing suicide. Very funny. Could stand for Royalty? The 2nd business name makes me think the owner may be a die-hard Harry Potter fan. And I don’t understand what the deal is with the last one, but it does remind me of the vision test chart.
posted by Carla on 1-24-2008 at 12:15 pm
it’s totally fake, but how about the liquor store from the (?) Rob Zombie (?) movie? Pussy Liquors. Now THAT’s FUNNY
posted by qt314159265 on 1-24-2008 at 12:17 pm
I think after a lifetime of being slave to King Liquor, the R finally fell off the wagon.
Should probably make itself friends with the R in Rehab!
posted by Lauren on 1-24-2008 at 12:19 pm
My immediate thought on the liquor sign was that the R was representing a space ship with an antenna. I guess because “you are my king” reminds me vaguely of “take me to your leader.” Maybe??
In Lincoln, NE there’s a place called Cheapest Damn Cigarettes. The “damn” on the sign is HUGE. Made me wonder about the rules about what language can and can’t be used in business names.
posted by Molly on 1-24-2008 at 12:32 pm
in louisville, ky there is a tobacco and liquor store called “cox smokers tobacco”… it is right next to “expressway liquors”. (which is mostly on funny because the expressway is basically the last thing people need to associate with liquor…)
posted by angela on 1-24-2008 at 12:45 pm
My home town we had a liquor store open up called “First Base liquours”
shortly there after there was a “Second Base liquors” and “Third Base liquors”.
Unfortunately no one ever made it home…
posted by Grimbelly on 1-24-2008 at 12:46 pm
You are my king = You are making
perhaps?
“Gentlemen’s Club”
at the AL/TN border = Boobie Bungalow
I kid you not…
posted by Ryan on 1-24-2008 at 12:49 pm
qt314159265’s post made me think up another good liquor store name. “Kitty liquor”. Yes, I know qt was not talking about Cats.
posted by Witty Nickname on 1-24-2008 at 12:50 pm
There is place in Newark, Delaware called Analtech. I can’t figure why they thought that was a good name. I am just so glad that they don’t have mascot or catchphrase.
posted by HeyThere! on 1-24-2008 at 12:52 pm
In Beaver Creek, Colorado there is a liquor store named Beaver Liquors…
posted by Heather on 1-24-2008 at 12:53 pm
well it was a regular sign that went horribly wrong . . . You know the Wendy’s sign?? It says “Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers”, well the one in my town had a few lights out in it once so that it only read “Wendy’s Old Ham”. Yum!
posted by Emily on 1-24-2008 at 12:54 pm
I dunno about anyone else, but I think that the last sign was supposed to be written as though it were a perceived spoken accent.
And I find it altogether not PC.
posted by ACute Angle on 1-24-2008 at 12:58 pm
Oh, I forgot. There’s a place near where I work called “Hamburger Hamlet.” At night, it appears that someone has not replaced the bulbs in several of the letters and now reads “Burger Ham.”
It always gives me a chuckle.
posted by ACute Angle on 1-24-2008 at 1:01 pm
In the same vein as “Pussy Liquors”… I spent some time in Korea… speak a little of it know a few bad words now. Was shocked to see a liquor store in a strip mall in Eagan, MN called “Boji: Wine and Spirits”. I’ll let you research ‘Boji’ in korean, but it’s the equivalent of a certain vulgar 4 letter word starting w/ ‘C’. What was even more odd was that it was next to a korean restaurant and a korean nore bang (singing room). I talked to the owner of the store– it was named after his home town, Okoboji, IA. He had no idea what ‘boji’ translated to when he opened the place, but had since been made aware. Sadly, the place closed down a couple years ago– the restaurant’s still there.
posted by Steve on 1-24-2008 at 1:09 pm
The Hotel Cass in downtown Chicago had a problem with burnt out lights. One night it read “HO ASS”
posted by Patrick on 1-24-2008 at 1:14 pm
Re: YAMKL - the R is like that so that it catches the eye. Like the Coin Op laundries who put one of their signs upside down.
There was a radio parody commercial in my town last year advertising a sofa store, calling themselves the Sofa King. “It’s not just good, it’s Sofa King good!” They got away with that for maybe a week.
The Hunan sign is in regards to the heartburn you will get when you eat there.
posted by David on 1-24-2008 at 1:25 pm
Along the lines of all the funny liquor stores… In Colorado Springs there is a place called
“Pirate’s Liquor Outlet”
posted by Scott on 1-24-2008 at 1:26 pm
I was with most of you with thinking the “R” is being hung. I think there may be a seriously racism undertone there. “You are my King” as in Martin Luther King??? I hope it isn’t the case, but that was my immediate thought especially with everything going on in the news with the Jenna 6 and the Golf magazine cover that had a noose on it.
posted by Bob on 1-24-2008 at 1:28 pm
Hunan:
The phoenix is a mythical creature in chinese folklore. Although the “return of the” part may just be commercializing on Star Wars or LOTR.
That last one is just right out racist in my mind. I’m chinese and I’m offended. They must have some twinkies running that place or something.
posted by Nick on 1-24-2008 at 1:31 pm
There’s a liquor store in Columbus, GA called Boo’s. I always liked that one.
posted by Tricia on 1-24-2008 at 1:35 pm
In going with the “lights out”…
There was a store in my hometown called “Kate’s At Home” (a home decor store). When I was in high school some of the lights burnt out and before they replaced them it read:
“Kate’s A Ho”
I thought I’d die. It’s out of business now.
posted by E on 1-24-2008 at 1:38 pm
In a nameless suburb of Columbus, OH:
“Taste of Cuisine”
I have no idea what they serve, but you can rest assured they think it’s pretty fancy.
posted by ebellempire on 1-24-2008 at 1:39 pm
Also, there’s a bait shop in northern wisconsin (Eagle River, I believe). The name: MasterBait.
posted by Steve on 1-24-2008 at 1:43 pm
A few years ago a “T & A Mart” was erected in Macon Georgia. The sign was put up way before the store was finished. I was in college at the time and my friends, especially my guys friends, could not wait until it opened. Unfortunately for them it sells only tobacco and alcohol, not exactly what they were hoping T & A stood for.
posted by Samantha on 1-24-2008 at 1:44 pm
Around Father’s Day one year, there was a sign on a Skyline Chili restaurant in Louisville, KY that said “Dad says he wants a 3-way.”
I guess a “3-way” is the name of one of their menu items.
posted by Emilee on 1-24-2008 at 1:48 pm
My favorite local one besides “G. Will Liquors” is a gas station/quick stop place called the “Pump N Munch”. I laugh every time I go by it.
posted by Pragmatic Cynic on 1-24-2008 at 1:56 pm
One of my favorites, although certainly intentional, is the Vietnamese restaurant “What The Pho” in Atlanta.
posted by Neil on 1-24-2008 at 1:57 pm
1. When did In N Out stop putting Bible Verses on their cups?
2. “You Are My King” is also the name of a song people sing in church. Maybe it’s some kind of funky Christian liquor store. (Maybe it’s owned by the owners of In-N-Out.)
posted by Ryan on 1-24-2008 at 2:00 pm
Haha.. the “gentleman’s club” at the AL/TN border is “Big Jim’s Boobie Bungalow.” I drive past that place a few times a year.
There is also a store in Orange Beach, AL called St. Nick’s Knife and Christmas Outlet. They pretty much sell everything their name implies — knives and Christmas decorations.
posted by Melissa on 1-24-2008 at 2:13 pm
I’m sorry, but the Chinee Takee Outee sign made me start laughing hysterically in my office… leaving me subject to everyones stares.
posted by Sarah on 1-24-2008 at 2:15 pm
There’s a convenience store in Texas called “Indus Supermarket”. I crack up every time I drive by.
posted by Telulablue on 1-24-2008 at 2:17 pm
Where I live, we have gas stations named “Kum and Go”. Engage your lower brain for a few seconds and you’ll figure out why they had to be drunk when naming their store chain. No wonder people think we’re all red-necks down here!! lol
posted by Anglea on 1-24-2008 at 2:20 pm
ooh ooh I almost forgot!
In Redondo Beach there used to be a place called “Hand Job Car Wash”, but I think the owner got wise and ultimately the sign was changed. Ho Hum.
It always made us college kids laugh. But then again, what couldn’t we make perverse?
posted by Lauren on 1-24-2008 at 2:21 pm
P.S. — Also in contention for best title EVER would have to be “Mo Better Meaty Meat Burgers”, which used to be in LA until they (tragically!) closed up shop.
posted by Lauren on 1-24-2008 at 2:24 pm
This one has to take the prize:
There are two locations in Salem, MA (of the witch trial fame) named “Bunghole Liquors”.
If you google the name you should find pictures. They also have a website if you’re so inclined to buy a t-shirt.
posted by Adam on 1-24-2008 at 2:34 pm
In Washington DC, right at the Key Bridge in Georgetown, there is a Liquor store called:
“Dixie Liquor”
I pass it every day on the way to work and it still makes me laugh.
posted by TJG on 1-24-2008 at 2:36 pm
There is a gun shooting range where I live that I called Gun World. The sign had a picture of earth (globe like) and then the silhouettes of a family holding hands. Like a whole family, the last one being a little kid holding a teddy bear. It used to say “Your complete family facility” underneath but it was all old and broken so now it has a scrolling marquee.
posted by kymberly on 1-24-2008 at 2:43 pm
Doggy Styles pet grooming just opened in New Lenox, IL.
posted by bedhead on 1-24-2008 at 2:44 pm
my favorite in birmingham (now since gone) was a sign at the longterm parking facility that said
“LONG TERM PARKING and USED CAR SALES.”
better get back from your trip before they sell your car!
(and thanks for the memories, TJG–dixie liquor is such a landmark for me)
posted by terri on 1-24-2008 at 2:45 pm
I always wanted to open a hip liquor store in a college town and name it Bourbon Outfitters. Don’t steal my idea.
posted by Ira on 1-24-2008 at 2:48 pm
In Portland there is an old sign for a chinese restaurant called Hung Far Low. The sign is vertical and below Hung Far Low is the word cocktails with tails blacked out.
And in New Orleans our famous one was Wagner’s Meat– slogan You Can’t Beat–Wagner’s Meat.
posted by Katie on 1-24-2008 at 3:00 pm
There’s a mom-and-pop type gas station and diner in Tipton, Indiana (as you’re driving along Rt. 31) called “Sherrill’s Eat Here & Get Gas”. I’ve tried to take a picture of it while stopped at the stop light by it, but camera phones only do so much.
posted by Krie on 1-24-2008 at 3:19 pm
In Flagstaff, AZ there is a chain (if two restaurants constitute a chain) of hamburger places name Bunhuggers. My sister made me stop so we could take a picture.
In a VERY small town (hamlet, burg, hovel?) near the Northwestern Arkansas Airport, there was a store that had a sign that read “The Stuff Store - We got real good stuff”. I took a picture of that one… But, alas it was not there last time I visited. (Visited friends, not the sign.)
And in Eugene, OR, my hometown, there is a company named “T&A Supply Co.”. I have a picture of that one also.
Hmmm… Wierd obsession with taking pictures of wierd signs? Yes.
posted by Oregon_Girl on 1-24-2008 at 3:19 pm
Lauren -
Yes!! Thank you for mentioning Mo’ Betta Meatty Meat Burgers (sadly closed), another LA icon that I almost included in this post. Unfortunately couldn’t find any great pictures of the sign that weren’t half-obscured behind construction.
posted by Ransom on 1-24-2008 at 3:24 pm
Katie –
You guys are mentioning all the greats. Hung Far Low in Portland rules — especially the late-night, pitch-dark Tiki bar upstairs.
posted by Ransom on 1-24-2008 at 3:26 pm
I always giggle when I drive by Savage Liquors.
posted by Julie on 1-24-2008 at 3:36 pm
I gotta tell you about the S & M Family Outlet stores in Beaumont, Texas. Oh, lordy! They sell clothes…and not THAT type of clothes. Also, the Ho Ho Super Buffet in Old Metairie, LA. It’s on Airline Hwy near the no-tell motels…..
posted by Reelgrrl on 1-24-2008 at 3:52 pm
In my hometown, we have a store called the Cigarette Outlet, or something like that. What’s more important is the tagline on their sign: “Our business is smoking!”
haaaaa. or not.
posted by stacy on 1-24-2008 at 3:53 pm
I’m pretty sure the “you are my king” is a reference to Jesus (but why at a liquor store?), or else a pledge to the liquor itself! LOL!
posted by Amy on 1-24-2008 at 3:54 pm
In Kansas City, MO there was a restaurant next to the highway called “Git Yo Chikin”. Never tried to eat there, pretty scarry!
posted by Steve on 1-24-2008 at 3:56 pm
The “R” is falling off of the wagon…hehe
posted by Kelley O on 1-24-2008 at 4:19 pm
Lexington (Ky) is home to Big Ass Fans, which is a manufacturer of high volume, low speed air movement devices. Their logo is a giant donkey. I like it. ;-)
posted by Roger on 1-24-2008 at 4:24 pm
“qt314159265 Says:
January 24th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
it’s totally fake, but how about the liquor store from the (?) Rob Zombie (?) movie? Pussy Liquors. Now THAT’s FUNNY ”
In the movie (House of a thousand corpses) it’s actually ‘Red Hot Pussy Liquors’. Just makes it that much better, heh.
posted by Donnie on 1-24-2008 at 4:34 pm
Acouple of years ago I wqas in Salem, MA, for a wedding. We saw a liquor store named….
The Bunghole!
I still laugh every time I think about it, up in neon lights…
posted by Alicia on 1-24-2008 at 4:36 pm
Three things come to mind on this topic:
A liquor store on my drive to work that’s called “Booze Brothers”. Classy spot, that.
I remember looking in the phone book a long time ago and seeing a company named “The Shinola Coffee Company”. Their motto: We know the difference!
I’ve always wanted to open a coffee & dessert shop called “Just Desserts”. I saw a shop in San Francisco by that name once, but I’m sure I came up with the idea first!
posted by Dave on 1-24-2008 at 4:43 pm
Here in Orlando, FL there are 2 good signs that stick out in my head.
First is Uncle Lou’s Nothin’ Mo’ Better BBQ (That’s the whole name of the place)
Another good one is every Christmas High Tide Harry’s seafood restaurant advertises their gift certificates with the slogan “Give You Friends Crabs For Christmas”.
Its the gift that keeps on giving!
posted by Marta on 1-24-2008 at 4:45 pm
In the community of La Jolla just north of San Diego reads a large red sign on a very busy street that says “DICK”S LIQUOR.”
posted by Kelly on 1-24-2008 at 4:50 pm
Years ago I saw a photo of a tour guide company in Thailand, or somewhere thereabouts, called GOFUKU TOURS.
posted by eroe777 on 1-24-2008 at 6:06 pm
Outside Canon City Colorado there’s a tourist trap whose name I can’t remember, but under their sign, in giant exclamations, it urges you to “Scream Until Daddy Stops”. I’va always thought that was a little off.
posted by jacob on 1-24-2008 at 6:19 pm
In Charleston, IL there was a brightly and oddly painted boarded-up building with a sign which, in letters that looked like logs, said “HOW Y’ALL ARE”. I believe it was a club or a bar. The town is in east central Illinois - hick, but not that hick.
posted by Sara on 1-24-2008 at 6:53 pm
If you consider the response to this question here, you have the answer. We respond to that which is curious, unexpected. And the dropping of the R is definitely a swift move by the advertiser, drawing far more attention than going the in line route.
I suspect if you did a short term memory study, this would show much greater retention. In fact, a central part of memory techniques employ exaggeration, visual distortion and a host of other imagery tricks to create anything bizarre as an image. Perhaps this is a holdover from our evolution, the visual system scanning for differences that could have been potentially dangerous….
posted by jorge jensen on 1-24-2008 at 6:58 pm
I was travelling from Georgia to Oklahoma and somewhere between here and there is a strip club called The Boobie Trap.
Apparently, in Alaska, halfway up the highway to Yellowknife, there is a hotel called Skinny Dick’s Halfway Inn.
posted by Anthony on 1-24-2008 at 7:00 pm
There’s a chinese buffet in a busy part of the mall area called “Super King Buffet” but with some of the lights burnt out, it now says: Sup Buffet.
I always laugh when I see that.
posted by Michelle on 1-24-2008 at 7:33 pm
In Sterling Heights, MI, there is a chinese take-out only restaurant named “Wok Inn”. Everytime I drive it’s like th first time, I cankt stop laughing!
posted by hollystarr on 1-24-2008 at 7:49 pm
When I went to the University of Missouri at Columbia there was a store with the name:
Liquor Guns and Ammo
How redneck can you get?
posted by dr Howard on 1-24-2008 at 8:31 pm
In Buffalo, NY there’s Amigone Funeral Home.
I also once stayed at a hotel in Clovis, NM called (no joke) the Westward Ho Motel. I think it was about $35/night double occupancy and still couldn’t drum up a lot of business. I literally had to dust off the sheets before I could go to bed!
posted by Wraith on 1-24-2008 at 8:50 pm
There is a store I used to pass everyday on my commute called:
Guns and Stuff
Pretty self explanitory, but still awesome name for a store.
posted by Erin on 1-24-2008 at 9:58 pm
In Fredericksburg, Virginia there is a Chinese restaurant called “Fukien Gourmet.” (Google it!)
I had many a fukien meal there!
posted by Walton on 1-24-2008 at 10:07 pm
In Dearborn Heights MI there is a bar named “Confetti’s Liquor Box”…say the last two words fast…
posted by Bridget on 1-24-2008 at 10:12 pm
In Louisiana there is a small burger and shake place named “Ho-Made”…
posted by Keri on 1-25-2008 at 7:52 am
I posted about something similar last fall on my LJ! :D
I drove by a bar in a little town not far from here called “NUTZ DEEP II.”
Love the Z, really adds that “je ne sais quoi.” Non? And the ‘II’ implies that there’s either more than one or the first one burned down. EW! I felt dirty just driving by.
There is also a bar in my hometown called “Whiskey Dick’s.”
I can’t believe the cojones (no pun intended) of these people. Can you imagine sending incorporation paperwork with these titles? Paying taxes?
posted by mrs.djs on 1-25-2008 at 8:55 am
The Hooker Hotel.
Named for Thomas Hooker, and yet…still so wrong. Even better, because it’s old and disgusting, in the worst part of town, and used almost exclusivly by ladies of the night.
posted by thirty7 on 1-25-2008 at 9:01 am
There’s a place near the Lake of the Ozarks called Big Dick’s Halfway Inn. Similar to the Alaska place I guess. I also remember a sign down there for a BBQ place that said, “Liquor in the front. Poker in the rear” maybe it was the same place. It’s been awhile
posted by Ralph on 1-25-2008 at 9:58 am
In Virginia: the Fauquier Motel, spotted in the 1980s.
Re malfunctioning signs, the Daley’s Funeral Home sign in my hometown was usually partially burned out, leaving us with “Daley’s Fun Home.”
My personal favorite malfunctioning sign was at our local McDonald’s, touting the Big ‘N Tasty. The T fell out, renaming the sandwich The Big Nasty. Wish I had a photo.
posted by cmacg on 1-25-2008 at 10:09 am
Anthony:
The Boobie Trap is in Alabama. Home sweet home.
posted by Taylor on 1-25-2008 at 10:31 am
In a continuation of reply #26, I submit that your Hunan: Return of the Pheonix restaurant changed it’s name in honor of the Harry Potter movie release last summer ;)
the best-ever sign: a burnt out C in Chick-fil-a = Hick-fil-a
*giggle*
There’s an awesome little Thai restaurant in town called “Ban Thai.” I don’t know what kind of marketing message that sends…
also, Coffee shops are ripe for punnage.
“Latte Dah” is my favorite XD
posted by Ashley on 1-25-2008 at 10:50 am
When I lived in California, there was a little shop called “Split Second Liquor.”
For when it’s REALLY an emergency.
posted by Natalie on 1-25-2008 at 10:52 am
The R on this sign is so drunk it can’t
hang on to the peg……
posted by SCHMELZ on 1-25-2008 at 10:54 am
Ah, once again we turn to the fine folk of Asia for our humour! In Vancouver, BC, there was the Fook Hing Trading Company, and also the Tin Chu Restaurant, which closed down.
posted by Marion on 1-25-2008 at 11:40 am
Taylor-
Thanks for the clarification. I couldn’t remember exactly where it was, but I always remembered passing it. We even stopped for a picture once. The other place I want to visit that was along our route was Toad Suck National Park in Arkansas. One year, we were driving past it and there was a big sign advertising Toad Suck Days. We were in a hurry or I would have stopped and at least gotten a t-shirt.
posted by Anthony on 1-25-2008 at 12:00 pm
In Georgia, right near Lake Lanier, there’s a store called The Dam Store (it’s on Buford Dam Road). Always thought it was kinda funny - “where are you going?” - “the DAM store!” (sheesh)
posted by Aimee on 1-25-2008 at 12:09 pm
I was taking a road trip when I had to pass through Nebraska. In a very small town (forgot the name), there is a pharmacy called Stoner Drug.
posted by Jenn on 1-25-2008 at 6:26 pm
Stoner Drug - Nebraska
posted by Beejee on 1-25-2008 at 6:31 pm
Great list. We have a lounge/package store right outside of downtown here in Tampa called “The Double Decker Lounge”. It is in a single story building and to the best of my knowledge always has been. That name has baffled me for years.
posted by Christian on 1-26-2008 at 1:22 am
My favorite store name will always be one I saw in Cardiff, Wales a couple years ago.
“What?? EVERYTHING!!”
It did not have, much to my friend’s dismay, any slippers.
posted by Laura on 1-28-2008 at 6:23 am
- the ‘3 way’ at sky line is indeed on the menu - i believe its chilli, cheese and spaghetti. no really.
also a chain in louisville that’s noteworthy: Cox’s Smokers Outlet. it’s a chain of discount tobacco stores, but my boyfriend and i have a theory that it’s owned by gay men with a sense of humor.
posted by J on 1-29-2008 at 10:44 pm
There used to be (pre-Katrina) a series of Chinese places in the New Orleans French Quarter called “Takee Outee”. You had to be really drunk to eat there.
In Siler City NC there’s a car wash named “The Wet Spot” reportedly named to tick off the guy in charge of the sign ordinance.
posted by Susan J on 2-12-2008 at 11:22 am
I used to live in toronto and would walk to an early lifeguarding shift at like 5 in the morning when many businesses were still lit up as it was dark outside. Funny enough on my walk I noticed a part of the primrose hotel sign had burnt out. It read “rimrose hotel”. classic.
posted by Lola on 2-12-2008 at 2:46 pm
In Fresno CA we had the delightful “Jimmy’s Donut” which I imagined to be a business that sold pieces of a very large doughnut. Then someone went and fixed the grammar! But worst of all we still have the wonderfully awful “Uncle Tom’s Liquor.”
posted by Ego, Egoing, Egone on 2-12-2008 at 5:17 pm
I live near a shut down shoe store called.
R. Soles - for Shoes
posted by simon on 2-12-2008 at 10:22 pm
In Chattanooga TN there was a downtown restaurant called the Country Kitchen that had been here for decades. The name was up in big neon lights that forever had a letter or two burned out. For a week, they had the “o,r,y” burned out, leaving the police to believe it was an act of vandalism.
posted by Ryan on 2-12-2008 at 10:42 pm
I’m not sure if it is there anymore, but several years ago there was a grocery store in a small town close to Shreveport, La. I found it funny because, at the time, the O.J. Simpson trial had only recently concluded. The store’s name was OJ’s Super Foods, but their slogan was “Home of Mr. Meat”.
posted by Normal on 2-12-2008 at 11:47 pm
There’s a little restaurant on the way to my cottage called “Alice’s Restaurant”. They’ve got something they call an “open menu”. Basically, you tell them what it is and they’ll make it for you. You really can have anything you want. Unfortunately, it’s run by a 65 year old man.
posted by Al Robinson on 2-19-2008 at 2:37 pm