I first want to point out that there’s a reason the title of this post isn’t “Punny Business.” That reason is that it would be a dreadful title. Some people, however, have neither the restraint nor the better judgement to leave puns in their accustomed milieu: the passing comment or the punchline of a soon-forgotten joke.
As I, and no doubt countless others, have mentioned previously, puns are roundly and routinely criticized as the lowest form of humor; some even speculate that uncontrollable pun-making is a legitimate psychological condition, a disease. I hold no such vendetta with them, but caution that there is a time and a place for puns, as well as a time and a place not for puns.
Which brings us to the thrust of this post, also not particularly new territory. The phenomenon of businesses whose names are puns. In my exprerience, although there is a broad variety of punned establishments, there are three categories that are more prone than others: coffee bars, hair salons, and lunch spots (particularly chicken joints).
Honorable mentions go also to bicycle shops (Cycletherapy, Different Spokes), Chinese and Thai restaurants (Wok ‘n’ Roll, Thai Tanic), portable toilet renters (Johnny-On-The Spot, Call-A-Head), and crafts stores (Passionknit, Taming of the Ewe).
My problem with punned business names is that, although they may initially be memorable, they reek of impermanence and perhaps even diminished quality. True, they telegraph a certain inviting playfulness to customers, but they also suggest that the proprietors might not take quality or service as seriously as they should. This observation certainly accounts for the fact that such names are endemic to niche businesses and are nowhere to be found among Fortune 500 companies. Despite all this analysis and awareness I still can’t shake the sense of transience such cute-and-coyness conveys.
In a similar fashion, I resolutely refuse to order things in restaurants with “cute” names: I just describe the core characteristics of the dish so the server knows which one I’m talking about. No “Championship Sliders” for me, thank you. And at Starbucks it’s a medium-size, not a “Grande,” if you please.
And finally, do not get me started on that other minefield of puns out of control: mystery novels! I honestly think it’s reached pandemic proportions in that industry. (Christmas-themed mysteries are the most egregious of the egregious.) I will not deign to mention any titles, but will point out that a related phenomenon is the preponderance of skulls worked into the cover artwork of those very same books. Profligacy!
31 May 2009 Sun at 2:48 pm
um, so where do you stand on blog names that are puns? ahem.
as for chicken places–how could you have omitted a jersey classic–CLUCK U!!!!!! there are a few of them peppered throughout the state. and my favorite hair salon? the ‘curl up and dye’ on 22 in south plainfield or greenbrook. hilarious.
31 May 2009 Sun at 2:55 pm
There are many, many to choose from. I did have a Pluck U. and a Curl Up & Dye (Upper Broadway) in my little gallery though.
31 May 2009 Sun at 3:57 pm
oops…i missed the CU&D…but Pluck U isn’t Cluck U! haha.
and you slyly avoided my pointed question: where do you stand on blog names that utilize puns? i guess your non-answer is my answer?
31 May 2009 Sun at 4:10 pm
Nat: I did make the ‘P’ in Pluck bold to show that it wasn’t quite Cluck, but it ended up being kind of subtle in the ‘published’ version. And I’ll go on record to say that punned blog names are …acceptable?
31 May 2009 Sun at 6:19 pm
so are you telling me that the book blog name ‘book, line, and sinker’ isn’t the epitome of genius that i’ve been imagining it is?!?!?!
31 May 2009 Sun at 6:58 pm
I love it.
31 May 2009 Sun at 10:50 pm
“Java the Hut”
That is HI-larious!!
I actually have pun post traumatic stress disorder. Get my father and several family friends and they would just pun….FOR HOURS. (I wish that were a hyperbole! Oh, how I wish.)
I GET IT, you are CLEVER. My brain hurts.
01 Jun 2009 Mon at 3:43 am
A man was trying to cheer up his depressed wife so he decided to use some puns to make her laugh. He eventually stopped after ten puns.
Did any of them make her laugh???
No pun in ten did…..
01 Jun 2009 Mon at 10:23 am
haaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!! i am using this one!!
01 Jun 2009 Mon at 9:15 am
I especially liked Java the Hut and Nin Com Soup. Those are fab! I love signs anyway.
BTW – There’s a book called ’wichcraft stock full of sandwich recipes.
01 Jun 2009 Mon at 10:28 am
If it’s this book then it’s produced by the same outfit that’s in the photo.
01 Jun 2009 Mon at 10:03 am
*twitch*
Ugh, I base my haircutting/beverage determination solely on name.
01 Jun 2009 Mon at 2:13 pm
I can never let my fiance see this post. Not ever. That man is the master of bad puns – he can make one out of anything you say. Anything!
It’s a little disconcerting to know there are more people like him out there in the world ;-)
01 Jun 2009 Mon at 10:20 pm
Not only do they exist, but they’re entrepuneurs. By the way, I want to apologize for not visiting and commenting on your blog lately. I thought the faeries had nabbed you once more, but it seems they just hijacked my Reader. I’ve rectified the situation and will be dropping by regularly from now on.
02 Jun 2009 Tue at 11:01 am
An occasional pun can be cute (not that cute) but too many and I’m screaming inside. There’s a Curl Up & Dye salon here in Old Orchard Beach, but Curly beat me to it. What is it w/ hair salons and punny names??
02 Jun 2009 Tue at 11:10 am
I thought toilet humor was the bottom, then sarcasm!, and then puns.
I’ve been living in a fecaletious bubble!
12 May 2010 Wed at 4:15 pm
First i don’t appreciate your use of my sign and logo in your defaming rampage. To insinuate that those of us who have a sense of humor and are bold enough to start our own business{mine,,,1983} are somehow not as serious and of less or lacking quality is a gross and quite frankly rude insult.Could this be a hidden lack in your own life,,,or as you said.”your atrophying mind.?”Cumin,the spice help’s clear plaque from the brain,maybe you should try some. C.Sandy
12 May 2010 Wed at 4:56 pm
This might actually inspire me to shift the blog out of neutral.
13 May 2010 Thu at 10:16 am
My business is the first picture,,The Best Little Hair House in Denver. Even tho you perceive yourself as only leaving “gentle prods”, as you call them,, they were still demeaning and insulting. I would say that most small business people do directly connect ourselves to our companies because we are our companies and we work very hard to stay afloat.Having a “Punny” name has brought clients to my door who have been with me since my opening in 1983.I’m sorry for my prior harsh rebuttle but building up someones image instead of knocking it down would serve all of us more.Blaming me for my reaction,misses the point,,,not everyone will find you so witty and clever in your musing’s Remove my sign from your blog, C.Sandy
13 May 2010 Thu at 12:49 pm
C. Sandy–
I’ve removed the photograph, as you wished.
·p·
15 Jan 2012 Sun at 2:39 pm
The bike shop that I always like the name of: “The Chain Gang.”