Growing "Sign War" Among North Carolina Eateries

A playful exchange on marquee signs between two North Carolina restaurants has escalated into a lively "sign war." Numerous businesses have now joined the fun, WCTI-TV reported.

The humorous rivalry kicked off when Ioanni's Grill & Bar in Morehead City displayed a sign reading "Happy birthday Jeff" for nearly a month. This prompted the neighboring restaurant Dank Burrito to fire the first shot. Its sign taunted, "Ioanni’s quit being lazy, change your sign."

In response, Ioanni’s owner Sam Turnage changed his marquee to declare: "Dank, we are not lazy, just busier than you." Not to be outdone, Dank Burrito replied with a sign that read, "Y'all just look busy because it takes 2 hours for a dollar taco."

Owner Clarke Merrell shared that many customers stop to take pictures of these witty exchanges. According to him, the environment sparks interest in local dining.

As the sign war gained momentum, other nearby businesses chimed in. Prime Bistro showcased a cheeky sign: "Boys, do we need to have a meat-ing?" Similarly, EJW Outdoors voiced its support with, "Guys, do we need to taco 'bout it?"

Merrell believes that over 70 businesses have now contributed to the sign war. Residents track this continuing saga in a dedicated Facebook group, illustrating its growing popularity.

Merrell admitted uncertainty about how long this playful feud will last. "I have no idea, man. It’s interesting. I thought it might fizzle out today, and people are still posting and gaining traction," he explained.

Conversely, Turnage expresses his determination to keep the banter alive. "I'm going to keep it going as long as I can," he stated, emphasizing his commitment to the fun.

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