My novel The Road Home is based on the Appalachian town where my grandmother grew up, but I fictionalized the name. I included a funny business combo called Tansy’s Donuts & Laundry. One of the Kentucky characters, Miss Ollie, is unhappy about this new business and shares her opinion.
I wanted a head-scratching business combo in the story because of an old family story. When my grandparents retired to Tennessee, we went to visit them. As we drove into town, we passed this store.
(Actual vintage photo from our family archives)
We laughed about the name and wondered how anyone thought to combine the two items. My dad mentioned it to his dad, and Grandpa said, “I ain’t buying my cheese at a place that sells shoes, and I ain’t buying my shoes at a place that sells cheese.”
We have laughed and laughed about that story for decades, so I had to include it in the book somehow. I reworked Grandpa’s quote and gave it to Miss Ollie–Olivene Endicott.
When I tried to decide on a business name, I spent a lot of time searching online and found some crazy combos.
*Funeral & Mini-Golf
*Beauty Parlor & Chainsaw Repair
*Ice Cream & Car Wash
Several of them made me giggle, just like Shoes & Cheese.
Have you seen any funny business combos?
Would you wash your drawers at a place that sells donuts? Is Miss Ollie just cranky, or is she smart?
Find my debut novel here.