Shop names – who invents them, anyway?

Just a quickie, before dashing off to the  ITA conference in Jerusalem:

Several new shops and eateries have recently opened in the center of Rishon LeZion, in the area that used to house the old central bus station. I walk by at least twice a week, making little mental notes to myself on which shop looks inviting, which one I’d like to try.

One corner shop had me mystified before it opened: judging by the neon sign, I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what it was going to sell: notary services?? Highly unlikely.

Until one day, there it was, open for business: another eatery. A sushi bar. Where on earth did they get the idea for the name? I have half a mind to go in and ask them.

For the non-Hebrew speakers among my readers: ‘’gushpanka” comes from Aramaic, and means official seal.

Two doors away is what my folks used to call a rag shop and nowadays goes by the name of fashion boutique. And rather a pretentious one at that. Called Royal, it features a huge chandelier inside that might not look out of place in a fancy ballroom in Versailles.

About two days after it opened, the L in ROYAL went pfft, leaving the neon sign as ROYA. It’s stayed that way ever since, i.e. for weeks. I took the pic at night, and the light of the chandelier was too bright for my iPhone camera to deal with.

As for the selection of clothes inside – definitely more befitting a rag shop than a royal shop: about the same design and quality you’d find in any market stall.

And now, I have to finish packing my rags and be on my way! TTFN.