Leave it to (Wild) Beaver

We went downtown to ask people how they felt about the bar’s unusual moniker.

“I don’t particularly like the name,” said 20-year-old Dylan Krupp of Ann Arbor. “Mixing girls in skimpy outfits and alcohol under the roof of a place called the Wild Beaver doesn’t sound appealing.”

“You automatically assume it’s a sexual innuendo,” said Angie Puccio, 20, also from Ann Arbor. “They should call it by a different name.”

“I gotta be honest, I thought it was going to be a strip club,” said Cynthia McDonald, 19, of Lansing. “It might be OK to check out if you had nothing better to do. The word ‘beaver’ kind of associates with strippers and porn.”

“The name really isn’t appropriate,” said Jessica Holli, 20, of Lansing. “While I think the name is funny, it’s a little gross, and I can see how it would be offensive.”

“It’s not that big a deal. I’ve heard of Michigan exit 69, Big Beaver Road, and it’s like the same thing. Out-of-towners might not think that it’s appropriate though,” said Nichole Wilkinson, 22, Lansing.

“I think it’s appropriate,” said Amanda Carey, 20, of Mt. Pleasant. “There isn’t really anything offensive about it. I guess the ‘wild’ part could be taken the wrong way by some people.”

“It’s a really bizarre name. It doesn’t fit in with the rest of the block. I want to support them because they’re a new business; I wish them well. But it would be strange to tell coworkers, ‘Hey, I’m going to lunch at the Wild Beaver today!’” said a Lansing resident who asked not to be identified.