RALEIGH, N.C. — Some giant fungi have come between a new Raleigh restaurant and city inspectors.

The owners of the Mellow Mushroom on the corner of Peace Street and Glenwood Avenue spent $12,000 on outdoor mushroom sculptures.

The owners said it is art, but inspectors said the sculptures are in violation of the city's sign ordinance.

"We're in the process of having a sign made because we didn't feel like these constituted a sign. They don't tell anybody what the name of the business is. They don't give any description of what's inside at all," owner Kent Hodges said.

"It could be that this business may qualify for a free-standing ground sign and that code allows you to have one free-standing ground sign," city inspector Larry Strickland said.

The owners have appealed the case to the city's Board of Adjustment, which is scheduled to meet on March 4.