A Witty Name Can Attract More Business

Copabanana

BOMB BOMB ITALIAN RESTAUANT
In 1936 this South Philly corner bar-restaurant was bombed twice by racketeers. The second time the owner took the hint and got out.

HAPPY TO BE NAPPY
A Germantown Avenue hair salon for black women who like natural hair styles.

COPABANANA
South Street bar-restauant whose name is a play on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janerio.

BOXERS PHL
Center City gay bar where staff are shirtless and wear red boxer shorts.

THIRD BASE 
The place you go before going home.
A former Roxborough tavern

JOSE PISTOLA’S
A Mexican-themed bar owned by Joe Gunn.

SMOKKEY TOKKEY
A tobacco and head shop in Rockledge

ROBIN’S WIGWAM
A North Philly wig store.

Signs of Earlier Times Can Make You Smile

Tavern Sign near 2nd and Spruce St

For several reasons – that we won’t go into – taverns were the most numerous businesses in colonial America.

It helped to have a clever name for your tavern with a memorable or amusing sign hanging outside.

Many tavern signs were simply copies of tavern signs in England, Ireland or Wales.

Here are a few memorable taverns from our area.

THE FOUR ALLS: 
The tavern was a 6th and Catharine. The sign portrayed four figures with a caption under each.
King “I rule all.”
General “I fight for all.”
Minister “I pray for all”
Peasant “I pay for all”

A MAN FULL OF TROUBLE: 
This sign (not the original) can still be viewed on the tavern near Second and Spruce streets. The sign shows an older man with a younger wife. She has a shopping basket with a cat sitting on it.
The poor guy has a monkey and a parrot.
The idea apparently comes from a Biblical verse: “Man’s days are short and full of trouble.”

 SILENT WOMAN: 
The sign, near Chester, showed a woman having her head cut off.

NOT SURE the name of this old tavern at 13th and Walnut. However, the poetic sign is almost an exact copy of one in England.

I, William McDermot, live here
I sell good porter, ale and beer
I’ve made my sign a little wider
To let you know I make good cider.

Philadelphia Clever Business Names: Part Two

Yet more clever named businesses in Philadelphia.
(yes, these are/were real places!)

• Hairs Janet (hair dresser)

• Miss Demeanor (women's clothing)

• The Couch Tomato (restaurant)

• Whirled Peace (frozen custard)

• Bone Appetite (pet food)

• Hair of the Dog (pet grooming)

• City Clippers (hair salon)

• The Pour House (tavern)

• Sweet Freedom (bakery)

• BoneJour (pet supplies)

• 2NE2 (restaurant where you pick two selection. So NE can be ANY)

Philadelphia Clever Business Names: Part One

Over the years, there have been some clever named businesses in Philadelphia.
(yes, these are/were real places!)

• Curl-up and Dye (hair salon)
• Light’N Up (smoke shop)
• Julius Scissors (hair dresser)
• The Barking Lot (pet groomer)
• The Scissord of Aaahs (hair dresser)

Stay tuned for more funny Philly Business Names!!!