If there's gum, call Gum Guy
Man creates his own sticky niche cleaning up after renegade chewers
By Glenn Smith
Armed with a wand of super-heated steam, Charleston's self-proclaimed goo-buster set out Tuesday to eradicate the rainbow of petrified chewing gum that has become a sticky form of folk art in the city's Market area.
The Post and Courier
David Samios uses super-heated steam and solvent Tuesday to clean chewing gum from one of three utility poles in downtown Charleston's Market area.
Entrepreneur David Samios calls himself The Charleston Gum Guy, and he's looking to build a niche industry removing gnawed-over wads from defaced spaces across the Lowcountry. Among his first targets are the monuments to mastication that inspired his business: the Charleston "gum poles."
City officials have tried for years to discourage passersby from depositing their lumpy clumps of used gum on a trio of utility poles near the intersection of East Bay and Market streets. Not only has the practice endured, it has spread to other poles as well.
Samios, a 40-year-old Summerville resident, saw opportunity where others saw yuck. He bought some gum-cleaning equipment and the city of Charleston agreed to pay him about $100 to clean one of the sticky shafts. He hopes to clean the others as well, if South Carolina Gas & Electric signs off on the work. He's also lined up work removing chewable deposits from a local movie theater and the Charleston International Airport.
Previous story
A matter of personal taste: Gum-covered utility poles pop art to some, yucky to others, published 06/01/08
The Pittsburgh native showed up at the Market wearing his best Steelers cap and carting a portable generator, a boiler-equipped cleaning unit and a jug of environmentally friendly solvent. The unit produces a high-temperature, low-pressure steam that basically lifts and melts the offending wads off the rough wood, creating a gooey, sweet-smelling slag that can be vacuumed away.
"When the hot steam hits it, you can smell the original flavor of each piece of gum," Samios said. "The white pieces smell like spearmint. Then there's blueberry, watermelon and the others. That's kind of neat. But it's still pretty nasty work."
FILE
A utility pole at the corner of East Bay and Market streets is dotted with used chewing gum.
Curious shoppers and vendors watched as Samios labored in a cloud of steam for more than three hours to bore down to the pole's weathered wood.
Caribbean art vendor Joe Lifaite was impressed, but he doesn't expect the pole to stay clean for long. "It looks much better, but I give it a week before it's covered again," he said.
Monica Gonzalez, who sells Peruvian goods, agreed. "I think it's disgusting, but I see all different people do it, from teenagers to grandparents," she said. "It's becoming a tradition in Charleston."
Gonzalez teased Samios a bit, extracting a big wad of gum from her mouth as she walked up to the clean pole. "Just kidding," she said with a laugh.
Samios just grinned and shrugged. Some view the gum poles as repulsive and unhygienic. Others consider them pop art. He sees them as something else entirely: job security.
Reach Glenn Smith at 937-5556 or gsmith@postandcourier.com.
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theronce (anonymous) says...
There are some nasty people in my state. Look beside the roads too. Can you imagine all of the diseases that are probably included in that gum. There's no pride in the people that do it and probably not much more in those of us who tolerate the behavior.
February 11, 2009 at 6:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
I have a problem with what this guy is doing - ie using steam/heat to remove gum. I have always heard that one should use ice to remove gum - my wife agrees.
theronce - there are nasty folks every where.
February 11, 2009 at 8:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charleston1960 (anonymous) says...
times are tough in this economy. Just put a frame around the leftovers and promote it as an art exhibit for spoleto tourism.
February 11, 2009 at 8:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ksloan (anonymous) says...
It's not just Charleston. On South Street in downtown Philly there is a "gum" tree. The locals encourage you to deposit your gum there as part of the tourist tradition.
February 11, 2009 at 8:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
I like the fact that this guy found a 'market' (pun intended) niche and exploited it.
You gotta love capitalism.
February 11, 2009 at 8:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MSC (anonymous) says...
We attract the classiest people, don't we?
February 11, 2009 at 8:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KidYendor (anonymous) says...
Good luck David Samios. You are a hero. You can bring change by keeping our area clean and sanitary from gum depositing misfits. Chewing gum debris is litter and litter is repulsive. Leaving it behind is a heinous crime.
February 11, 2009 at 10:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CedarPosts (anonymous) says...
I said this about the "School Lets Out Gas" but they changed it so it's not as funny.
"If there's gum call Gum Guy"???
Maybe it's just me but does anyone else find the Post and Courier "Headlines" lacking and yet somewhat comical?
"Sparks flying over power plant....."
"Man dies after he was shot at home - Mother says 39-year-old did not open door to strangers"
Joseph Pulitzer would either be shocked and dismayed or challenged to expand on this unique concept of odd and wordy headlines. I haven't decided.
I guess we've come a long way from "Dewey Defeats Truman", "Victory!" or "Nixon Resigns" of course the last time I was as at newpaper they were still setting type by hand.
February 11, 2009 at 10:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Charles_Town (anonymous) says...
Imagine the DNA that be collected from the discarded wads of gum.
February 11, 2009 at 11:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stephansdad (anonymous) says...
With all the miserable news we get everyday, FINALLY we hear of a courageous entrepreneur trying to make it.
Good for this guy and may he get many, many contracts.
February 11, 2009 at 12:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
Oh, I know there are nasty people everywhere. I've been to other places where I did not see trash along the road, yards were not trashed, and no gum on public property. It's a sorry reflection on a culture that relishes or encourages the public display of a person's personal waste.
February 11, 2009 at 12:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KidYendor (anonymous) says...
David the Gum Guy is supposed to be on the Rocky D show on WTMA 1250AM on Thursday. It begins at about 12:08 pm.
February 11, 2009 at 8:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
Maybe the sidewalks will be next to get degummed.
February 11, 2009 at 10:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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