What’s Going On with Clown Burger in Haltom City?

by

Passersby can immediately spot Clown Burger in the old Haltom City neighborhood, thanks to the eager clown that’s stood several feet tall near the street since 1959.

That clown is something of an outlaw these days.

Haltom City has ordered the eatery off Stanley Keller Road to touch up its “significantly faded, deteriorated” signs (both the street sign and the mural on the building wall). City ordinances stipulate that commercial signage be kept to a minimum standard — in other words, the clown needs a new face of makeup.

Clown Burger doesn’t need to remove the signage. The mural and large sign near the street both simply require a recoat of paint, say city officials. Haltom City also says it doesn’t require Clown Burger to use a licensed painter or obtain a permit, even though Clown Burger management says otherwise.

“It is one of those no-win situations for staff or Council regarding the perception of the community and ensuring compliance,” city officials wrote on the Haltom City Facebook page Monday afternoon. “Everyone wants a well-maintained town, but sometimes it incites frustration when city ordinances become necessary to ensure compliance.”

Clown Burger management tells a different story.

“We love our sign. Come take your last chance picture this week,” reads an ominous post made early Saturday on the Clown Burger Facebook page. The burger joint says the city handed over a costly list of “tremendous things that had to be done.” Choosing what mattered most, Clown Burger says the tall sign near the street trumps the painted sign against the business wall.

Despite the circus of events, hope for the clown on the wall remains.

“We are not quite ready to give up yet,” Clown Burger says on Facebook. “Hang in there with us. We have some really, really wonderful people working very hard on this.”

Clown Burger staff could not be reached for comment immediately.