Hilarious chain knockoffs

[thenetwork]

Reminds me of this S-Mart convenience store in Richmond (photo 2012...also spot the directional errors)


(S-Mart was also the K-Mart knockoff in the movie Army of Darkness.)

Those signs could go in the redundancy thread.

It looks like the traffic lights were moved to a new mast pole, while the old mast pole (and uni-sign) has yet to be removed.

[Takumi]

That's possible, yeah. I haven't been that way since I took the picture (the Richmond meet went near that intersection but we went back in the other direction afterward). Next time I head to Richmond I'll try to remember to check it out.

Back on topic, I found out another 7-Eleven near me is in danger of closing soon. Maybe it'll be replaced with another knockoff.

[TheCatalyst31]

Des Plaines, IL used to have an Indian restaurant called "Chilli's" that used a pretty similar red pepper in its logo.

[Pete from Boston]

On Congress St. in Boston, there used to be a bar whose awning had the tiny, easy-to-miss word "Three" above the large, bold word "CHEERS."

[Takumi]

Not really a chain, but a knock-off that never seemed to get off the ground:

I saw a "Le Pough Barbecue" restaurant this morning with Pepe Le Pew on the signs. It wasn't there last week.

[BamaZeus]

I do not know if this counts, but Ker's Winghouse of the Tampa Bay-Orlando-Daytona Beach areas could be one of Hooters.  If you ever get to Florida and are in those metro zones, go inside and you will see everything as Hooters is, except the uniforms are black instead of Orange and White.  The floor is wood, they also hang Christmas lights (except red is what Ker uses exclusively), the tables and chairs, as well as the whole decor is exactly like Hooters.

However, unlike most Hooters that do not serve a full liquor bar, though changing that slowly, they do have a full bar.  The Wings are better, but Hooters has better hamburgers, so other than personality traits it could be a knock off.  I do not know if its  considered hillarious as the place is as nice as its competitor, but it was sued by Hooters in court which could make it hillarious as Hooters lost the battle as its just like Home Depot suing Lowes.

We ate there several years ago when we were in town for a football game. Other than being a clear Hooters knockoff (but with better food), the pictures on the wall fractured me.

They had one picture of former WWE star "the Warlord" on the wall.  I'm sure he's a nice guy and all, but if this is the biggest celebrity who has been in your restaurant, that's likely a problem.

http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120511181841/wwebrady/images/f/f3/Szopinski.jpg

[jp the roadgeek]

Des Plaines, IL used to have an Indian restaurant called "Chilli's" that used a pretty similar red pepper in its logo.

There was a McDonald's that closed down right across the street from ESPN World Headquarters that has become so many different names since.  There is a sign for one there now that never actually opened, but it is called "Red Chilis", and the logo is unmistakable.
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.6471953,-72.9027502,3a,75y,270h,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s6PyrY7mswTdBb_c1pFUN7Q!2e0?hl=en

[roadman]

I saw a "Le Pough Barbecue" restaurant this morning with Pepe Le Pew on the signs. It wasn't there last week.

Pepe Le Pew as a mascot for a restaurant.  Clearly the owner didn't think too closely about that one before having the signs made.

[Scott5114]

I saw a "Le Pough Barbecue" restaurant this morning with Pepe Le Pew on the signs. It wasn't there last week.

Pepe Le Pew as a mascot for a restaurant.  Clearly the owner didn't think too closely about that one before having the signs made.

I know, the copyright infringement there is just so blatant...

Wait, were you thinking of something else?

[roadman]

Let's put it this way.  If I see an image of a skunk as a restaurant's promotion, copyright infringement is probably the last thing I'll be thinking of.

BTW,  I never liked Pepe Le Pew cartoons.  For one thing, Le Pew obviously was lacking basic animal intelligence if he kept mistaking black cats with white paint on them for female skunks.

[kinupanda]

Along the lines of knockoff-style signage, there's Pizza Empire in New Haven. It certainly looks like it's part of an old Pizza Hut sign, though I can't say for sure. If so, then perhaps this restaurant got the other half, but I can't confirm that either since GSV apparently hasn't updated since it opened.