Buc-ee’s Bullies Mom-And-Pop Mini Mart Over Cartoon Beaver
Buc-ee’s filed a federal trademark lawsuit against a family-owned Ohio convenience store, alleging its beaver logo and branding infringe on the travel center chain’s trademarks.
The Texas-founded chain in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio against Beaver’s Mini Mart, a family-owned convenience store in Beavercreek. Buc-ee’s claims the store’s name, cartoon beaver logo and red branding are confusingly similar to its federally registered trademarks.
According to Dayton 24/7 Now, Buc-ee’s is asking the court to order Beaver’s Mini Mart to stop using the disputed name and logo, destroy signs and marketing materials bearing the branding, surrender profits allegedly earned through the infringement, pay damages and cover Buc-ee’s attorney fees and court costs.
The company has also requested a jury trial.
The Boparai family, which owns Beaver’s Mini Mart, says the store has operated since 2017 — years before Buc-ee’s opened its first Ohio location in nearby Huber Heights, Dayton 24/7 reported.
Customers emphasized that point, telling the outlet the lawsuit could set a troubling precedent for small businesses. (RELATED: Johnson & Johnson To Settle Baby Powder Lawsuit Over A Decade Later)
“I hope they understand that this is picking on small businesses. It’s just not right to begin with,” one customer said. “They’ve been around a lot longer than Buc-ee’s has been here in Huber Heights, so I don’t understand.”
Beavercreek Councilman Zach Upton told the Cincinnati Enquirer he would be shocked if anyone confused the two businesses.
“Common sense is not prevailing,” Upton said. “I can’t imagine anyone would be confused by the mini mart and Buc-ee’s. It’s not even in the same ballpark.”
Local residents also argued that the store’s branding bears little resemblance to Buc-ee’s trademarked logo and reflects the city’s identity rather than an attempt to capitalize on the chain’s popularity.
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“Beavercreek was here before they were. This place was here before them. Their emblem doesn’t even really resemble the Buc-ee’s beaver,” another customer told Dayton 24/7 Now. (RELATED: Ohio Rep. Marcy Kaptur Rushed To Hospital After Suffering From Hit-And-Run On Way To Church)
Beaver statues can be found around town, and several other area businesses feature the semi-aquatic rodent in their marketing, according to the Enquirer. Even the local high school’s mascot is the “Battling Beaver,” Chron reported.
Harry Boparai, the brother of Beaver Mini Mart owner Vik Boparai, told Dayton 24/7 that business has been booming since the lawsuit was filed. He said many customers have stopped in specifically to show their support.
“Ohio likes to support their own,” Bartley Davis, a resident of nearby Yellow Springs, told Dayton Daily News. “Everybody here likes local business, and some corporate chain out of Texas is trying to sue one of our own, and we stick with our own.”
Locals also rallied around the Boparai family in an Ohio Facebook group, with some vowing to boycott Buc-ee’s.
“I won’t be going to Buc-ee’s. They can float on downstream and suck on a log. Support small business,” one group member wrote, according to the Enquirer.
Whiskey Riff noted that Buc-ee’s has previously taken legal action against several businesses over logos or branding it considered too similar, including other convenience stores and companies featuring cartoon animal mascots.
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The Daily Caller reached out to Buc-ee’s for comment.
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