Knit Wits, Going Pottie, Just Falafs Shop Name Puns

Classical rhetoricians favored the important-sounding term paronomasia--playing on the sounds and meanings of words. Linguists refer to them as homophones--different words that are pronounced the same way (not weigh). And psychologists use phrases like ambiguity resolution and bistable illusion. We simply call them puns. And whether or not youre a fan of word play, puns are inescapable. Join us as we stroll down the main streets and high streets of the English-speaking world--stopping by a liquor store named Boos, a clothing shop called Knit Wit, and a portable-toilet rental service in Chicago known as (get ready) Oui Oui Enterprises. Go ahead--roll your eyes and groan. Jest for the pun of it, here are the shamelessly punny names of shops, bars, hair salons, restaurants, dog groomers, service stations, and, yes, lumberyards (Julius Cedar). Oh, and by the way: as far as we can determine, most of the businesses listed here are still operating. Whether thats because of their clever names or in spite of them, you decide. Assorted Businesses and Services Alexander the Grate(fireplace retailer in Belfast, Northern Ireland)All Cisterns Go(plumbing service in York, England)ArtSea Gallery and Goods(Port Isabel, Texas)Ashwipe Chimney Sweeps(Chicago, Illinois)Avant-Card(stationery shop in Berkeley, California)Beddy Buyz(furniture shop in London)Beecher Meat(butcher shop in Beecher, Illinois)Bona Foodie(market in Brighton, England)Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors(Amarillo, Texas)Carls Pane in the Glass(glass and window services in Garland, Texas)Carpin Capers(fishing equipment shop in Northampton, England)C’est Cheese(cheese shop in Santa Barbara, California)Cosmopoli-Tan(tanning salon in New Orleans, Louisiana)Cycloanalysts(bicycle shop in Oxford, England)Cycology Mobile Bike Repair(Portland, Oregon)Floral n Hardy(flower shop in Lanark, Scotland)Florist Gump(flower shop in Bunbury, Washington)Fond Ewe Fine Cheeses(Keswick, England)Frame, Set and Match(picture framing shop in London)Get Plastered!(interior plaster company in San Fr ancisco, California)Get Stuffed(taxidermist in Islington, England)Going Pottie(ceramics studio in Dunkeld, Scotland)Grate Expectations(chimney and fireplace service in London)Haute Dogs Fat Cats(pet shop in Dallas, Texas)Hearty Boys(catering service in Chicago, Illinois)Indiana Bones Temple of Groom(pet grooming service in Simi Valley, California)Jamaican Me Crazy(family fun store in Haddonfield, New Jersey)Julius Cedar(lumberyard in Saskatoon, Canada)Junk Disorderly(furniture store in Nottingham, England)Knead to Relax Massage(Traverse City, Michigan)Knit Wit(clothing store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)Luna Sea Bed and Breakfast Motel(Cocoa Beach, Florida)Melon Cauli(greengrocer and fruit seller in Birmingham, England)Merry Pop Ins Child Care(Jacksonville, Florida)Millionhairs(dog grooming service in Bath, England)Napoleon Boiler Parts(plumbing supply store in Alton, England)The Old Spokes Home(bicycle shop in Burlington, Vermont)Old Volks Home(Volkswagen service and repair in R ichmond, Virginia)Optom-Eyes(optometrist in Colorado Springs, Colorado)Oui Oui Enterprises Ltd.(portable toilet rental service, Chicago, Illinois)Pam-Purred Pets(pet store in Leslie, Michigan)Pane in the Glass(window washing service in Contra Costa, California)Past Caring(antique shop in London)Phydeaux(pet-supply store in Chapel Hill, North Carolina)Prints Charming Photography(Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania)R. Soles(boot and shoe store in London)Sew Materialistic (fabric store in Brooklyn, New York)Shoebedo Kids Boutique(childrens shoe store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)Shoenique Shoes(Longmeadow, Massachusetts)Shutopia(shoe store in Bradford, England)Snip Doggy Dog Grooming and Dog Sitting(Altrincham, England)Sofa So Good(furniture store in Vancouver, Canada)Specs Appeal(optical shop in Glendale, Wisconsin)Suite Deal Furnishers(furniture shop in London)The Stalk Market(flower shop in Seattle, Washington)Tanfastic Tanning Salon(Brookfield, Wisconsin)Thistle Do Nicely(souvenir shop in Edinburgh, Scotland)Tiecoon(mens clothing store in Dallas, Texas)A Time to Kiln(pottery store in Red Bank, New Jersey)Vinyl Solutions Unlimited(vinyl supply store in Greensburg, Indiana )Wash Up Doc Laundromat(Clifton, Colorado)William the Concreter(concrete contractor in Durham, England)Wish You Wash Here(launderette in Coventry, England)Womb to Grow(shop that sells maternity wear and baby gifts in Lichfield, England)Wooden-It-Be-Nice(furniture repair shop in Belvidere, Illinois)Woodfellas Carpentry Joinery Ltd(Birmingham, England)Wreck-A-Mended Towing and Automotive Repair(Marietta, Georgia)Youve Got to Be Beading!(bead store in Mystic, Connecticut) Barber Shops and Hair Salons American Hair Force(hair salon in Elk Grove, California)Barber Blacksheep(hair salon in Brighton, England)Combing Attractions Hair Salon(Janesville, Wisconsin)Connecticutz  Barber Shop(Groton, Connecticut)Curl Up and Dye(hair salon in Las Vegas, Nevada)Deb n Hair(hair salon in Worcester Park, England)From Hair 2 Eternity(hair salon in New Baden, Illinois)Hairanoya(hair salon in Oakland, California)Hairaphernalia(hair salon in West Dover, Vermont)Hairchitects Salon(hair salon in Campbell, California)The Hair Em(hair salon in Willow Street, Pennsylvania)Hair Force One(hair salon in Holbrook, New York)Hairitics  Dye For Your Beliefs(hair salon in Chicago)Hair Me Out(hair salon in San Francisco, California)Hair-O-Dynamics(hair salon in Cuba, Missouri)Hair Razors(hair salon in Grand Junction, Colorado)Hairs  Johnny(barbershop in Portage, Indiana)Hannah and Her Scissors(hair salon in Miami, Florida)Julius Scissor Hair Design(hair salon in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)Permutations Hair Salon(Glasgow, Scotland)Snippety Crickets(hair salon in San Francisco, California)Were Hair(hair salon in West Warwick, Rhode Island) Bars and Pubs Bar Humbug(bar and restaurant in Bristol, England)Booze Brothers Off License(Preston, England)Brews Brothers(bar and  night club  in Pittston, Pennsylvania)Chez When Cocktail Lounge(Sedalia, Missouri)Lawrence of Oregano Pub(Halifax, Nova Scotia)Pour Judgment(bar in Newport, Rhode Island)Tequila Mockingbird Mexican Bar and Grill(Ocean City, Maryland)U Otter Stop Inn(bar in Minneapolis, Minnesota)What Ales You(bar in Burlington, Vermont) Cafes, Chip Shops, Coffee Shops, and Restaurants Aesops Tables(Greek restaurant in Indianapolis, Indiana)Award Wieners(restaurant in Anaheim, California)Bean Gone Cafe(Auckland, New Zealand)Bean Me Up Espresso(coffee shop in Spokane, Washington)Brewed Awakening(coffee shop in Berkeley, California)Brew Ha Ha(coffee shop in Phoenix, Arizona)Burger Off(take-away restaurant in Hove, England)Butty Boys(sandwich shop in London)The Contented Sole(seafood restaurant in West Palm Beach, Florida)Crepevine(restaurant in San Francisco, California)C U Latte(coffee shop in Brisbane, Australia)Cup-A-Cabana(coffee shop in Corvallis, Oregon)Custards Last Stand(ice cream shop in Boulder Dam, Nevada)Eat Must Be First(Chinese restaurant in Baltimore, Maryland)Edible Complex(restaurant in Portland, Oregon)Edinburger  Takeaway(restaurant in Edinburgh, Scotland)En-Thai-Sing(Thai restaurant in Mildenhall, England)Espresso Yourself(coffee shop in Newport, Pennsylvania)Fish-cotheque(fish chips shop in London)For Cod and Ulster(fish chips shop in Belfas t, Northern Ireland)For Cods Sake(fish chips shop in Cheltenham, England)Franks A Lot(restaurant in East Dundee, Illinois)Franks for the Memories(restaurant in Mundelein, Illinois)Frying Nemo(fish chips shop in Goole, England)Goodbuy  Mr  Chips(fish chips shop in Derby, England)Goodfillas(sandwich bar in Bristol, England)The Great Impasta(Italian restaurant in Champaign, Illinois)Grillers in the Mist(fish restaurant in Katoomba, Australia)Higher Grounds Cafe(coffee shop in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)Ho-Lee-Chow(Chinese restaurant in Toronto, Canada)Howe’s Bayou(Cajun restaurant in Ferndale, Michigan)Jamaican Me Hungry(restaurant in Key West, Florida)Jonathan Livingston Seafood(seafood restaurant in Reykjavik, Iceland)Just Falafs(restaurant in London)Just the Plaice(fish chips shop in Swanage, England)Kumquat Mae(vegetarian restaurant in Sheffield, England)The  Lattetude  Bistro(coffee shop in Decatur, Georgia)Lettuce B. Frank(restaurant in Santa Barbara, Californi a)Lettuce Souprise You(restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia)Lord of the Fries(restaurant in Melbourne, Australia)Lox Stock Bagel(restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona)Marquis de Salade(restaurant in Budapest, Hungary)Men At Wok(Chinese restaurant in Williston, Vermont)Mrs. Sippy’s Coffee(coffee shop in New Berlin, Wisconsin)Mustards Last Stand(restaurant in Melbourne, Florida)Nincomsoup(restaurant in London)Northern Lattes(coffee shop in Anchorage, Alaska)Papa Razzi(Italian restaurant in Washington, D.C.)Petes A Place(pizzeria in Peabody, Massachusetts)Pizza DAction(restaurant in Holyoke, Massachusetts)Pizza My Heart(restaurant chain California)Plaice T Meat(fish chips shop in Scunthorpe, England)Pony Espresso(coffee shop in Dubois, Wyoming)Prawn Broker Restaurant(Fort Myers, Florida)Pullet Surprise(Southern soul restaurant in Fort Worth, Texas)Pulp Kitchen(restaurant in Canberra, Australia)Relish the Thought(sandwich shop in Chicago, Illinois)The Rock and Sole Plaice(fish chips sh op in London)Roland Butter(sandwich shop in Glasgow, Scotland)Sacred Chow(vegetarian restaurant in New York City)Sam  Nellas  Mad Cow Steak Rib House(Colchester, Connecticut)Samwidges  Sandwich Delivery Services(London)Seoul Food(Korean restaurant in Cambridge, Massachusetts)Sherlocks Home Restaurant(Minnetonka, Minnesota)Syriandipity(Syrian restaurant in Toronto, Canada)Thai Me Up(Thai restaurant in Edinburgh, Scotland)Thai One On(Thai restaurant in Seattle, Washington)Thai Riffic(Thai restaurant in Sydney, Australia)Thai Tanic(Thai restaurant in Washington, D.C.)Thanks  A Latte(coffee shop in North Highlands, California)Tony’s Toe-Main Cafe(Jersey City, New Jersey)Via Agra(Indian takeaway restaurant in London)Wholly Crepe(restaurant in Los Angeles, California)The Wieners Circle(restaurant in Chicago, Illinois)Wiener Take All(restaurant in Buffalo Grove, Illinois)