Texas-based convenience store chain Buc-ee’s is suing a small Ohio business, claiming its name and logo are too similar to the company’s trademarked beaver mascot.
According to reporting by WDTN, Buc-ee’s filed a federal trademark infringement lawsuit against Beaver’s Mini Mart in Beavercreek, Ohio, alleging the store’s branding could confuse customers into thinking it’s affiliated with Buc-ee’s.
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The lawsuit claims Beaver’s Mini Mart uses a cartoon beaver with “wide eyes and a smile” and prominently features the color red, elements Buc-ee’s says resemble its federally registered trademarks. The chain is asking the court to order the business to stop using the disputed name and logo, remove related signs and marketing materials, pay damages and attorney fees, and surrender any profits allegedly tied to the infringement. The company has also requested a jury trial.
Beaver’s Mini Mart owner Vik Boparai’s family says the convenience store has operated since 2017, years before Buc-ee’s opened its first Ohio location in nearby Huber Heights earlier this year. The store is located about 16 miles from the Buc-ee’s travel center.
The lawsuit has sparked backlash from some community members, who have organized “cash mobs” and other efforts to support the family-owned business. Some residents told WDTN they believe Buc-ee’s is targeting a longtime local business despite its years of operation in the community.
The case is the latest in a series of trademark disputes involving Buc-ee’s. The Texas chain has previously filed lawsuits against several businesses it claims use logos or branding that are too similar to its iconic beaver mascot.
WDTN reported that both Buc-ee’s and Beaver’s Mini Mart have been contacted for comment.