Scottsdale restaurant's ad gets attention from city officials

SCOTTSDALE, AZ - The owners of Stingray Sushi say its restaurant ad that has people talking is just a catchy cartoon, but some say it’s too much for you to see.

“She’s a young, hip, edgy double secret agent,” said Bryan Chittenden, about Zusi Sushi, the restaurant’s mascot.

Zusi is already up in plain sight at a Phoenix intersection at 40th Street and Indian School Road. But the City of Phoenix turned her down when the owners tried to post an image of her at a bus stop. The Japanime character is wearing a miniskirt that reveals her underwear, and is holding guns in both hands.

“Kids will see this, that's a bad thing,” said Oliver Ware, a passerby who saw the image. “Hot chicks with guns? That's a no-no.”

Joey Navarro agreed.

“I don’t know if they’re trying to sell guns or to sell sushi,” he said.

Phoenix Public Transit Department Spokeswoman Marie Chapple said the ad campaign is too vulgar and too violent to post at bus stops, according to standards approved by the City Council.

“It’s not having the guns,” said Chapple. “They can have guns if they’re holstered or not being used. It’s the action that is relevant to the violence.”

But Chittenden maintains the battle is about freedom of speech and Second Amendment rights.

“The character is not shooting the gun, there are no bullets coming out of the gun,” he said. “She is merely running with a gun.”

The weapons aren’t the only problem the department has with Zusi.

“The other part is, she’s wearing a very short skirt with her panties showing,” said Chapple.

Katie Brenneman, who was eating dinner at Stingray, said she doesn’t find the character shocking or offensive at all.

“At least she's wearing underwear,” she said.

The restaurant owners and city officials have not spoken directly since the decision was made, but Chapple said she would be willing to reconsider allowing the ad if some modifications are made.

Chittenden also said he would be willing to make the changes if the City reconsiders.