Why San Pedro has embraced Gaffey Street gaffe on decorative signs

In a town where a three-eyed fish graphic is defiantly embraced. It may be no surprise that the misprint of 13 new Gaffey Street decorative signs with three e’s in Street  became a cause to celebrate.

“I love the three e’s,” said Elise Swanson, CEO of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce.

She wasn’t alone.

After what’s being called the Gaffey Street gaffe misprint was noticed and publicized earlier this week. An array of news media outlets came to town Thursday, hoping to catch images of the orange and blue circular signs before they were taken down.

The mistake will be fixed and the signs returned to their light posts lining both sides of Gaffey from the 110 Freeway to about 13th Street on the south.

But, in a short time, they became an instant hit with many of the locals on social media.

So Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino’s office said Thursday that one of the signs will remain.

“It’s become a piece of San Pedro history,” said Branimir Kvartuc, Buscaino’s communications director, not unlike the three-eyed fish painted by a cartoonist on Gaffey as a protest to toxic dumping.

The sign next to the Gaffey Street Diner at 247 N. Gaffey St. will remain in place, as is  three e’s and all.

Not only will it be good for a local business, Kvartuc said, “We feel it will become an Instagram spot” where people will gather to take pictures.

Louise Taliulu, a third generation San Pedran who owns the diner, is all for it.

“It’s a great thing, it’s going to work for me,” she said. “It’s going to be a little selfie spot.”

Talk of San Pedro’s new unexpected icon filled her restaurant on Thursday, she said.

“It’s like the new trend right now,” she said.

Will the Gaffey Street Diner on Gaffey Streeet add an “e” to its name to join in the spirit of the new logo?

“We’re kind of thinking about it,” she said.