“There is no business purpose for the double entendre they use,” said Rehoboth Beach Realtor Jim Kiernan. “The problem is that it is so unnecessary and so inappropriate. There are quality restaurants that are out on the highway that do not need to stoop to that level. This community has worked very hard not to become like Ocean City.”

Kiernan is not the only person who feels strongly about the sign. DiBonaventure’s Bakery owner Jason Stickler passes out a flyer to every person who visits his shop.

“Is your family as disgusted by the lewd messages put out by Crabby Dick’s restaurant on Route 1 as our family is?” the flyer asks. “Have the moral courage to do something about it. Make a stand against this filth.”

Stickler said he felt obliged to do something because the sign sits in public view. “I could care less what they do inside the restaurant,” he said. “I don’t want them throwing it up in my face.”

The Cape Gazette editorial staff wrote an editorial denouncing the sign as well.

Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce CEO Carol Everhart said the chamber could act as an intermediary in situations such these, “if someone is willing to put their complaint in writing,” she said. “We will forward it to the business, but we are not an enforcement agency. We tell them we hope the issue is resolved. We act on a good faith effort for both sides.”

Everhart would not reveal whether the chamber received any complaints concerning Crabby Dick’s sign. “That is not something I can share,” she said.”

Crabby Dick’s owner John Buchheit said the community is overreacting.

“There is not a thing on that display I couldn’t explain to my seven-year-old niece,” he said. “People are seeing what they want to see. I had two little old ladies in here who were Lamp Post regulars say it was Benny Hill humor. That’s all it is, Benny Hill humor. For every complaint I’ve received, I get another email from someone saying they love it.”

Buchheit said he thinks the reason Stickler and others are mad is because of his success.

“[Stickler] solicited us to use his bread and I didn’t take him up on it,” he said. “We do all our baking in house. So what does that tell you? Also, we haven’t advertised and we have lines out the door. Our sales are triple what we expected. I’m selling Baltimore merchandise because I can’t keep Rehoboth merchandise in stock.”

The Route 1 location is the second Crabby Dick’s restaurant. The first is in Baltimore.

“People’s minds are going to perversion,” he continued. “One woman wants me to change my name. As far as me changing my name, that’s totally ludicrous.”

Buchheit has his own supporters as well.

David Welsh, a Washington, D.C. native and father of two, took his family there for dinner. “I don’t see any harm in it,” he said. “It’s all tongue-in -cheek. The thing that amazed me was the alcohol policy.”

Crabby Dick’s cards everyone who walks through the door, and orders alcohol regardless of their age. “You’d think the community would be supportive of a responsible restaurant,” he said. “You never see alcohol promoted on the marquee.”

Stephanie Przygocki, a teacher at Polytech and Cape Region homeowner, wrote a letter to the editor stating the community is focusing on trivial matters and should focus on “the much larger issues of promiscuity.”