# Really unfortunate business names **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 3, 2001, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-unfortunate-business-names/71143 "2001-07-03T23:24:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-unfortunate-business-names/71143/41 "2001-07-04T08:05:07Z")
Not a business name, but a couple co-workers I had went to the same gynecologist, a **Dr. Beavers**. ---
**Author:** ![Xerxes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d2c977/32.png) [@Xerxes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xerxes)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-unfortunate-business-names/71143/42 "2001-07-04T10:27:30Z")
… And sunny Leamington Spa (UK) boasts/boasted a firm of Solicitors (not sure what the US counterpart is; essentially a law firm I guess) with the soubriquet **Wright Hassell** & Co. I just bet they were. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-unfortunate-business-names/71143/43 "2001-07-04T10:32:18Z")
It’s not so much that the business had a bad name… but there was a firm in my home town whose sign read INDUSTRIAL AD ESIVES… ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-unfortunate-business-names/71143/44 "2001-07-04T10:40:05Z")
There used to be a lifting gear test company working on rigs in the North Sea called Test Tackles Ltd. I used to call the receptionist up about four times a day. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-unfortunate-business-names/71143/45 "2001-07-04T11:07:46Z")
Once, a while back, I saw a newspaper add for a gastroentreologist(sp?) named Anil K. Ram. ---
**Author:** ![Sultan\_Kinkari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@Sultan\_Kinkari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sultan_Kinkari)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-unfortunate-business-names/71143/46 "2001-07-04T11:18:55Z")
When I was a kid there was an **S&M Market**. I heard about a **Gargoyle Arctic Oil**. Theres an office supply store called **T&A Supply**. When Ford came out with the _Nova_ it sold great here in the US, then they tried to market it in Mexico and they didn’t sell a single one. _Nova_ means _NoGo_ in Spanish. ---
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-unfortunate-business-names/71143/47 "2001-07-04T12:28:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wishbone \* > \*\*When Ford came out with the _Nova_ it sold great here in the US, then they tried to market it in Mexico and they didn’t sell a single one. _Nova_ means _NoGo_ in Spanish. \*\* Nah. Pretty sure that’s a UL. Snopes is your friend. \ ---
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-unfortunate-business-names/71143/48 "2001-07-04T12:30:31Z")
Whilst living in Washington DC a few years back, I saw a HUGE crane with the name of the business on it… HYMAN CONSTRUCTION “Wow! Just how big IS the hymen they’re building that they need a crane like that!” ---
**Author:** ![Xerxes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d2c977/32.png) [@Xerxes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xerxes)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-unfortunate-business-names/71143/49 "2001-07-04T12:41:17Z")
Re Nova, try [here.](http://www.snopes2.com/business/misxlate/nova.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Why\_A\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Why\_A\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_A_Duck)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-unfortunate-business-names/71143/50 "2001-07-04T13:02:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bibliophage \* > \*\*There used to be a restaurant in New London, Connecticut, called the **Hygienic Restaurant**. It went out of business, and I can’t imagine why. > \*\* There sort of is again. It was closed for the longest time, the only remnants being the yearly hygenic art show at the El’N’Gee club. After years of neglect, the old site was reopened recently as the hygenic art gallery. Not sure if they serve food or not again, it’s been a while since I cruised Bank St. ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-unfortunate-business-names/71143/51 "2001-07-04T13:13:24Z")
I do the pest control service for Scarr Funeral Home. It’s a family name, of course, but would you want them preparing the body of your loved one? ---
**Author:** ![Sultan\_Kinkari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@Sultan\_Kinkari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sultan_Kinkari)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-unfortunate-business-names/71143/52 "2001-07-04T13:18:52Z")
Mea maxima copa. Thank you for correcting me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sultan\_Kinkari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@Sultan\_Kinkari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sultan_Kinkari)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-unfortunate-business-names/71143/53 "2001-07-04T13:20:06Z")
awww shucks. Hell, I aint sawry. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sultan\_Kinkari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@Sultan\_Kinkari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sultan_Kinkari)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-unfortunate-business-names/71143/54 "2001-07-04T13:22:27Z")
I thought I posted in the wrong thread… ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-unfortunate-business-names/71143/55 "2001-07-04T13:42:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by PharmBoy \* > **I was just in Myrtle Beach SC, and driving thru a small town on the way to our house, I saw a five & dime type of place called (swear I’m not making this up ) "Badcock"** Lessee, around Orlando (besides everything containing “Magic”, “World”, or “Universal”): \*\*Badcock Furniture Lust Cash Registers\*\* and my favorite - the **Central Florida Blood Bank** is located on **Gore Street** ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-unfortunate-business-names/71143/56 "2001-07-04T14:42:34Z")
There is a local fried-chicken chain around here called, I shit you not, “Wife Saver.” I’m told the food is good, I refuse to eat it because of the name! This is more offensive than humorous, but I had to vent about it somewhere. Helloooooo, this is the 21st century, you sexist morons… ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-unfortunate-business-names/71143/57 "2001-07-04T14:53:39Z")
I know I’ve posted these in years past, but what the heck… In the '70s I visited my sister in Portland and we went to dinner at a Chinese restaurant with a huge neon sign proclaiming its name to be **Hung Far Low**. One of the more prominent manufacturers of the vibrators my industry uses is the **Failing Equipment Company** (named after founder George Failing). And there used to be a business down the street from me named Yoko’s Modeling Studio (for the serious late night artist) whose portable sign was rearranged one night (presumably by a visiting artist) to read **Moko’s Yodeling Snout**. I guess they liked it 'cause they left it like that for a couple of years. ---
**Author:** ![Why\_A\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Why\_A\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_A_Duck)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-unfortunate-business-names/71143/58 "2001-07-04T15:04:30Z")
I haven’t seen this link in a while, so here goes… [Engrish!](http://www.engrish.com/buildings.html) ---
**Author:** ![Grok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@Grok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grok)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-unfortunate-business-names/71143/59 "2001-07-04T15:05:39Z")
I once saw a truck with signs for **Atomic Exterminating**. “Yeah, lady. We can get rid of your cockroaches. In fact, we can get rid of any within 200 miles…” ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-unfortunate-business-names/71143/60 "2001-07-04T15:07:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wishbone \* > When Ford came out with the _Nova_ it sold great here in the US, then they tried to market it in Mexico and they didn’t sell a single one. _Nova_ means _NoGo_ in Spanish. \*\* Considering the Nova is a Chevrolet product… My favorite counter to that is “It didn’t sell well in Britain either, because in “nova” means “exploding star” in English, and nobody wanted to drive a car that they thought would explode.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-unfortunate-business-names/71143.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-unfortunate-business-names/71143.md?page=4)