Market Name Mixup!

Photo via A Fine Blog.

Something was lost in translation when a Turkish shop owner went to name his market on 84th and York Avenue. A Fine Blog reports that "he believed that it was something positive that he was saying...like 'not bad.'" U Don't Know Nothing Produce is a much more inspired name than Not Bad Produce, however, so maybe this was a happy accident after all.

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By Jen Carlson in Food on September 23, 2008 5:00 PM

Comments [rss]

mikely1

"Do Not Parking"

"Best Tacos in Tawn"

kerplat

Why doesn't he just erase 2/3 of the U to make it an I? Now THAT would be refreshing honesty!

grandzu

or the Chinese joint in Jersey named Hung Lee

NannyState

My favorite was a sign I saw at a little joint on Polk St in SF in '93 called "Hung Phat".

MisterTissue

Finally an NYC business name to rival "Jesus Car Stereos" in the Bronx. (YES...I know it's probably pronounced "Hey-seuss" but it still makes me giggle every time I'm Fung Wah-ing it to or from Boston.)

Toby von Meistersinger

I have something better, although not in NYC.

Barone's How-U-Doin': Home of the Badabing.

everyAframe

I thought this was cute too until the guy opened a place called "Your Girlfriend is an Insufferable Nihilist with a Flat Ass."

Spirit of 76

Signmakers aren't the brightest bulbs. I've seen signs for a "restauront" and "panninni." You'd think when a livelihood depends on good written English, they'd at least use a spelling checker.

resa

Awesome!

babyhitler

#6 - they do it on Purpose. When you speak good english it's not foreign or exotic enough.

DanielJ

Yeah this place opened a little under a year ago, and the name's always baffled me. I never understood why these guys who speak no English would pay good money for an awning with jibberish on it, when they could have asked someone who speaks English (I'm sure there's one somehwere..) to proofread it for them. Chinese restaurant menus as well.

newsyspice

There's a place in Jackson Heights called "Ho's Florist."

I love it.

KiljoyWasHere

the produce at this store is indeed excellent. however i was always baffled by the use of "u".

mrguy

there's a place on 98th and madison called "Just another Deli"

a refreshing bit of honesty.

then there's the place on broadway and LaSalle street

"WELCOME TO USA #1 GOURMET DELICATESSEN"