local businesses with horribly formed "names"

Yeah, back passage = arsehole

there's no way that that's what the bookstore was thinking

well, on re-reading the thread title, maybe the contention is that the bookstore is unaware of the connotation, but i don't really think "book" sounds anything like "back" or that the name of the store brings to mind an anus

you don't think it sounds *anything* like back?

Not enough to work as a pun, I think that's down to the vowel lengths being different.

Yeah I'm pretty mystified by "Book Passage". I'd grant it as an arse pun, though I agree the vowel isn't quite right here (maybe depends on your accent?).

My first thought was "book passage" on a ship - it's pretty antiquated language (would feel a bit arch saying I "booked a passage" on the ferry to France). Not sure what they'd be going for there. Having said that, "back passage" for anus is pretty dated too - it's a bit Carry On.

If it was like a really narrow bookshop ... like a passage between shelves? But it looks like a big modern building.

Perplexing.

To make up, here's a classic that I don't think's been mentioned yet (in no way local to me, but I did once drive past it)
https://live.staticflickr.com/97/246596908_7c0d89c705_b.jpg
(yeah it was challenge trying to search for this)

According to their website, "Book Passage" was originally the name of their mail order division before being adopted for the whole company. So "passage of books" seems to have been the intent.

I am firm that it is a non-filthy double entendre meaning "book passage" on a ship, and a "passage" from a book.

not exactly local but "Duke Cannon" always brings to mind someone launching dog turds at people

Yeah, they sell that stuff at my local Ace Hardware and it just makes me think of poop shooting out of a butt, so no thanks.

http://hipsterbusiness.name