Names in the Wild: The Little Shop of Hoarders

Yes, I do love a good pun.

The Little Shop of Hoarders, 6397 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland.

 

Window display.

I don’t care that it isn’t a wholly original name* or that the sign is hand-lettered. I love the pun and I love the merchandise. And I am thrilled that the owner spelled “sneak peek” correctly on her blog.

Not to mention that I couldn’t have been happier for the excuse to troll YouTube for clips from Little Shop of Horrors, one of my all-time-favorite movie musicals. Frank Oz directed; Alan Menken wrote the great songs. And that cast! Steve Martin, Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Bill Murray, Christopher Guest, John Candy, John Belushi.

Here’s one of my favorite songs, “Skid Row” (“where depression’s jus’ status quo”):

 

And you know you want to hear Steve Martin do the dentist song again, amirite? Knock yourself out.

*UPDATE: Alas, it appears that the Oakland shop is stepping on the toes of another Little Shop of Hoarders (see comment). Defending a trademark is a full-time job.

Comments

[Rosy Owsinski]

Hello, My name is Rose Owsinski. I originated the name."The Little Shop of Hoarders" in 2006 and paid to have it researched and trademarked in 2009. I was promised by these people in Oakland that they would alter their name to House of Hoarders and not force a cease and desist. Yes, everyone loves the name which was copied from me on a few different websites , firstly off my eBay store, then used on Etsy, then adopted further by Theresa Long. Yet till after my efforts at straightening it all out nicely, this credit comes up again online for them. Sorry, you'd have to experience the infringement to know what it feels like. Rosy O.