The uninformed would assume the Nineteenth Hole Rendezvous
cocktail lounge in Tres Pinos was named such because it sits on a
golf course. But the uninformed would be wrong.
The uninformed would assume the Nineteenth Hole Rendezvous cocktail lounge in Tres Pinos was named such because it sits on a golf course. But the uninformed would be wrong.
“We don’t know how it got its name,” said Helen Riddle, who has owned the business since 1977. “This was built in 1883 and this was the original name, but the golf course didn’t exist then. It’s kind of strange.”
There are several business in the South Valley with unusual names. Some are funny, some evoke images that seem to have nothing to do with the business itself, and others are simply cute and clever.
Damm Good Water is just one business owned by the Damm family in Hollister.
“It was a family decision and we put a lot of thought into it,” Mary Damm said. “We thought it was catchy and comical, but we didn’t want to insult anyone. But it’s our family name, and we thought it was the way to go.”
People can also buy Damm Soft Water and Damm Cold Ice from the Damm family.
“It certainly is memorable,” Mary said.
Pick A Dilly Ice Cream Shoppe in Gilroy changed hands about six months ago, and current owner Nidia Baron said she wasn’t sure where the name came from.
“I don’t know how they came up with it, but I decided it’s different and it’s so unique. I’m going to keep it,” she said. “People usually remember weird stuff, so people will probably remember us – and our 44 flavors.”
The Woodmyst horse stables in Gilroy are named for two of owner Donna Russo’s beloved horses that passed away.
“For a long time, I didn’t tell people what the stables were named after, but it’s for two of my favorite horses, Woody and Mystic, that died tragically,” Russo said. “One died of an accident in a pasture and the other died of colic. I’d never lost a horse in my life, and I lost those two within six months of each other.”
Because the horses were like pets to Russo and her family, she named the stables for them when she bought the business three years after they had died.
“It’s a memorial for them,” she said.
Before Phil Olavarri founded Killroy Pest Control in Morgan Hill 50 years ago, he was a pilot in World War II.
A man named Jim Kilroy was a shipyard inspector during the war, and after inspecting ships, he’d write “Kilroy was here” on walls, floors, ceilings and other parts of the boat to show he’d checked off on various aspects of the ship’s construction. Servicemen saw this early graffiti and began writing the slogan elsewhere, such as on walls and fences, across Europe.
Olavarri came across the slogan while he fought in the war, so when he arrived home and it came time to choose a business name, he added an additional L to the name – after all, he was killing bugs – and the Kilroy legacy lived on.
The Olavarri’s have included a more detailed account of Jim Kilroy and his strange legacy on their Web site, www.killroy.com.
Choosing the right name for a business is an important part of the marketing effort, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Web site, www.uspto.com. The business image is reflected in the name, and care should be taken when picking the name because owners will have to live with it for a long time.
Before picking a business name, owners should check that the name isn’t already taken. Check registered trade names in California at the Secretary of State Web site, www.state.ca.us, or check federal registered trademarks through the USPTO at www.uspto.gov.
Before choosing a business name, it is also wise to check if a name is available as a domain name, such as www.amazon.com or www.gilroydispatch.com, on the Web. Go to www.register.com to see if a name has been taken.
Other fun business names in the South Valley include:
– The Great Cover Up in Gilroy
– Let’s Talk Trash in Hollister
– Pinocchio’s Pizza in Gilroy
– Muppet Baby Day Care in Hollister
