Restaurants in a picturesque North Carolina coastal town are embroiled in a comical plate war that is spreading throughout the community.
The hilarious battle began in Morehead City when Sam Turnage, the owner of Ioanni’s Grill & Bar, left “Happy Birthday Jeff” on his sign for nearly 26 days.
Clarke Merrell, owner of nearby Dank Burrito restaurant, got tired of looking at the sign this summer and decided to send a message with his own sign.
“Ioanni, don’t be so lazy, change your board,” Merrell said as he changed his board, and the battle for the board began.
“It’s just fun. I just had a wild hare, just wanted to start a fight,” Merrell said WCTI12.
Thanks Burrito owner Clarke Merrell got tired of looking at the sign for Ioanni’s Grill & Bar, so he changed his sign to criticize the establishment for being lazy
Sam Turnage, the owner of Ioanni’s Grill & Bar, responded by saying his restaurant isn’t lazy, just busier than Dank’s.
Dank Burrito responded with: ‘Y’all look busy because it takes 2 hours to make a dollar taco’
Turnage updated his sign in response to Merrell’s call to action: “Thanks, we’re not lazy, we’re just busier than you.”
Dank Burrito responded: “Y’all seem busy because it takes 2 hours to make a dollar taco.”
Subsequently, businesses across Carteret County decided to join in, with some calling for a truce between restaurants.
Merrell estimates that more than 70 businesses, ranging from auto shops, furniture stores, fitness studios, the local VFW and even churches, have customized their signs to comment on the feud.
Merrell estimates that more than 70 businesses in Carteret County have joined the sign war
Other companies, including Kittrell Auto Parts, have spoken out about the fuel
Newport VFW post 8986 sign said: ‘War? Hold my beer’
Local churches got involved in changing their signs to call for peace between the two restaurants
“I feel like it brings the community together, especially with the election coming up. There’s tension and it’s messy, but it’s just good to have a good laugh,” Turnage said.
The sign at EJW Outdoors fishing shop read: “Guys, should we make a taco about this?”
Dank Burrito’s sign read, “Gauc off EJW, this is nacho beef.”
Ioanni’s Grill & Bar defended themselves even more vigorously by changing their sign to read, “Thanks, may we use your lot because we’re not allowed to” and “Thanks, Bojangles was a better neighbor.”
Other matters called for peace between the two institutions.
“The sky is breaking! You’re all pumped up and the radiator is done,” said Kittrell Auto Parts.
“Guys, we really need to get a bite to eat,” said Prime Bistro wine bar.
The community of Morehead City, which numbers nearly 10,000 people, is so fascinated by the sign wars that they even created a Facebook group where people can document creative observations
The restaurant owners said the plate war is purely for fun and they are glad it brings people together
“War? Hold my beer,” said Newport VFW post 8986.
“You should ask Ioa-nnis and God for forgiveness,” Parkview Baptist Church said.
“We can’t block it any longer, we just have to train it,” says Beaufort Barre + Fitness.
The community of nearly 10,000 people is so fascinated by the board wars that they even created a Facebook group where people can document their creative observations.
“It’s just amazing because the community that we live in, we’re all close-knit, and it’s just amazing to see and watch,” Carteret County resident Ashton Blackmon told the local news station.