# Odd names for businesses **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 16, 2003, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names-for-businesses/219414 "2003-12-16T22:43:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names-for-businesses/219414/62 "2003-12-20T18:26:00Z")
In Roswell, Ga., is a barbecue joint called “The Swallow in the Hollow” but it’s generally called “The Swaller in the Holler” by the locals. The TurnerSouth cabel channel music program “Live at the Bluebird Cafe” is filmed there. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names-for-businesses/219414/63 "2003-12-20T20:29:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by E.T. Bass \* > **Phuket is a beach resort city in southern Thailand.** I believe Phuket is also known as “James Bond Island,” as it was used for the location of Scaramanga’s hideout in _The Man With The Golden Gun_. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names-for-businesses/219414/64 "2003-12-20T20:40:39Z")
**myrnajean** , there’s a _Tin Lung Restaurant_ a couple of blocks away from the _Pho Bich Nga_ that **F\_X** mentioned-- same place, or is it more common than it should be? For years, there was a B.C. company called _Barren Investments_ – but it appears that they’ve finally gone out of business. ---
**Author:** ![arnex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@arnex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arnex)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names-for-businesses/219414/65 "2003-12-20T20:57:48Z")
Hmmm… synchronicity. Just yesterday I was thinking about this very topic. I was waiting at a stoplight when some random stimulus reminded me of a woman I dated ten years ago who volunteered at the City Union Mission (homeless shelter) here in Kansas City, and how I always had to suppress a giggle when I’d fetch the mail and find an envelope bearing a prominent faux-Celtic **CUM** logo in the return address. (I just checked the shelter’s website and the logo looks totally different now, so they must have gotten wise in the meantime.) There’s also a business in KC called **Roger the Plumber** that always reminds me of the Captain Pugwash UL when I pass one of their trucks. ---
**Author:** ![bigdfrombigd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df705f/32.png) [@bigdfrombigd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bigdfrombigd)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names-for-businesses/219414/66 "2003-12-20T21:41:18Z")
Southwest Nipples in San Antonio, Texas.:eek: ---
**Author:** ![emacularius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@emacularius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacularius)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names-for-businesses/219414/67 "2003-12-20T23:28:31Z")
I work in loss prevention for an auto finance company… There’s a repo company in, California, I think called “Transportation Deprivation” Another I saw was called “Gone in 30 Seconds.” When customers would call in to get their personal belongings from their repossessed vehicles, we’d refer them to the tow truck company. If I came across names like these, I’d just give them the phone number. Once, I got a fax from a place that fixed radiators… under their company name was the slogan “A great place to take a leak” ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names-for-businesses/219414/68 "2003-12-21T00:03:59Z")
The Bush empire has a few offshoots: [http://www.nr23.net/stw2003.htm](http://www.nr23.net/stw2003.htm) ---
**Author:** ![\_ceQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/b9bd4f/32.png) [@\_ceQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_ceQueen)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names-for-businesses/219414/69 "2003-12-21T00:11:48Z")
“Flushing Savings Bank” Nobody ever gets it. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names-for-businesses/219414/70 "2003-12-21T00:18:05Z")
The energy company Powergen recently bought up an Italian company…and registered the spectacular website domain, [www.powergenitalia.com](http://www.powergenitalia.com) ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names-for-businesses/219414/71 "2003-12-21T00:41:51Z")
There used to be a chain of service stations in Oregon called **Awful Gas**. I think they’re out of business now, but you can see one of their signs [here](http://www.rvtraveler.com/photos84.html) ---
**Author:** ![Alias](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@Alias](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alias)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names-for-businesses/219414/72 "2003-12-21T02:13:26Z")
I forgot to mention Dr. Stump. He has a practice in my town. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names-for-businesses/219414/73 "2003-12-21T02:53:44Z")
I remember seeing the Kenneth Fake Insurance Agency during a childhood visit to New York State. Turns out it’s [still in business.](http://www.workforcenewyork.org/localboardsfulton.htm) Doesn’t the concept of Fake Insurance just _inspire_ confidence? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Babbington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Mr.Babbington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Babbington)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names-for-businesses/219414/74 "2003-12-21T06:21:19Z")
I am not sure if it is still there, but in Baldwin, New York, there used to be a dry cleaner called the **Nuclear Cleaners**. They meant “Nu-clear Cleaners,” but someone left out the hyphen. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names-for-businesses/219414/75 "2003-12-21T08:40:02Z")
Of course, the town of Boring, Oregon, has a number of establishments that don’t really set your toe tapping, like Boring Hardware. Just doesn’t make me want to pop in. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names-for-businesses/219414.md?page=3)