Canadian Council Claims “Moby Dick” Restaurant Offensive Because It Has “Dick” In the Name

(NEWSER) – If they had just called it Ishmael, none of this would have happened. A British Columbia company has filed a lawsuit against a building council that refuses to let it lease a unit it owns to a Moby Dick Restaurant fish-and-chips franchise because the second word in the eatery’s name has been deemed an “offensive term,” Courthouse News reports.

The plaintiff, Mengfa International, has owned the unit since 2010, and it had initially leased the restaurant space to an Asian-fusion restaurant starting in 2014, per the suit. But after that restaurant started having money troubles, Moby Dick Restaurant came onto the scene in May and agree to a lease-and-purchase arrangement that would seemingly solve everyone’s problems. However, that arrangement was rejected by the building in July.

Per the complaint, the building council alleges signs and other markers with the objectionable moniker would sully the brands of other properties in the building, including by lowering property values.

The council also says that litter and restaurant-related odors and “fumes” would proliferate if the restaurant were allowed to open. The suit scoffs at claims that the name would somehow cause nearby property values to plummet, noting that it’s a seafood restaurant in a waterfront community—right up the name’s alley.

Mengfa adds it would do its part to keep litter under control and points out it would be using the very same kitchen ventilation system (and would even upgrade it) as the previous restaurant in that space. As for the name fracas overall: “Moby Dick” is “not offensive to the public, given its literary significance and fame,” the suit notes.

ED: Clearly, that council is made up of a bunch of “dicks.”  How about you?  Are you offended by Moby DICK? Leave a comment.