Latest news with #Barc-ee's
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Buc-ee's lawsuit forces Barc-ee's shutdown
This story was originally published on C-Store Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily C-Store Dive newsletter. About a month after Buc-ee's filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Barc-ee's, the Missouri dog park and cafe has closed down pending a brand refresh, according to a Facebook post from the company. 'This decision hasn't come easy, and we want to thank each and every one of you who supported us,' Barc-ee's said in the post. Buc-ee's filed suit on March 19, alleging that Barc-ee's, which offered a space for dogs to run around, a Western-themed children's play area and a cafe, violated Buc-ee's trademark since it had a similar name and logo, which shows a cartoon dog driving a car inside a circle. One of the outcomes Buc-ee's was seeking in its lawsuit was for Barc-ee's to stop using that name and logo. In a separate lawsuit from last year, Buc-ee's had also targeted Missouri liquor store chain Duckee's in Missouri Western District Court. That company's logo was a duck mascot inside a circle. According to court documents, the two sides came to a settlement out of court sometime between April 3 and April 17. As Buc-ee's continues to expand its extra-large c-stores across the U.S., it has been protective of its trademarks. In addition to Bark-ee's and Duckee's, it also targeted Mexican look-alike Buk-ii's in 2023. Recommended Reading Buc-ee's accuses dog park of trademark infringement
USA Today
24-04-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Coffee shop announces closure in 'bittersweet update' amid Buc-ee's copyright lawsuit
A pup-friendly Missouri business is closing its doors and starting anew after gas station and convenience store chain Buc-ee's sued the company for copyright infringement. Barc-ee's announced the closure on April 17 on Facebook, calling it a 'bittersweet update' and a 'new beginning.' According to the company, a new business will be opening its doors and selling bubble tea, coffee, lemonade, and sweets. 'They will be popping up over the next 90 days,' the company wrote. 'Right from the drive-thru at the place formerly known as Barc-ee's … The fight's not over. Our journey has just begun.' Barc-ee's is based in Marshfield, about 26 miles northeast of Springfield. The company, which sells hot and iced coffee, tea, shakes, as well as burritos and tacos, also hosts classes to teach dogs tricks. The closure comes after Buc-ee's filed a lawsuit in mid-March against the company, citing trademark infringement, per court documents obtained by USA TODAY. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. In the lawsuit, lawyers for Buc-ee's argue that the Barc-ee's trademark copies parts of the convenience store and gas station chain's font and logo. Lawyers for Barc-ee's and Buc-ee's did not immediately respond to requests for comment on April 24. Lawsuit: Barc-ee's name and logo were a 'playful nod' to Buc-ee's Lawyers argued in the lawsuit that Barc-ee's used the same 'curving word style' that Buc-ee's uses, in addition to a logo similar to the chain's well-known cartoon beaver logo. Regarding the logo, lawyers for Buc-ee's said the pup-friendly company has adopted a 'colorable imitation of the Buc-ee's Logo.' Lawyers for Buc-ee's state in the lawsuit that Barc-ee's publicly admitted to getting its inspiration from the chain. According to Buc-ee's, Bar-cee's linked to an article on its website that said the company's inspiration came from 'the well-known Buc-ee's,' calling it 'a playful nod to Buc-ee's.' Lawyers also argued that the pup-friendly business has misled customers into believing the two companies are related, and also created 'unfair competition.' The attorneys demanded a jury trial to resolve the matter. They also pushed for the company to cease operations using the Barc-ee's name and logo, as well as money to cover profits the owners made using the logo and name. Previous lawsuits filed by Buc-ee's Barc-ee's isn't the only company Buc-ee's has sued. The company has initiated legal action against at least four other companies. Previous lawsuits or threats of legal action include: March 2013 (Chicks in Texas) - Buc-ee's sued Texas-based convenience store Chicks and claimed the company's store design, website, product variety, and logo were similar. Chicks' lawyers tried to dismiss the complaint, but Chicks ultimately closed in 2014. 2018 (Choke Canyon in Texas) - Buc-ee's won a federal lawsuit against Choke Canyon, a travel center. A jury found that Choke Canyon's logo looked too much like Buc-ee's logo, per the Houston Chronicle. Choke Canyon changed its logo. July 2023 (Buk-II's Super Mercado in Mexico) - When an image of the Mexican convenience store went viral on social media, Buc-ee's found out about the company, and rumors swirled that the company would take legal action. Bucee's did not end up suing the store due to it changing its mascot, KABC-TV reported. January 2025 (Super Fuels in Texas) - Buc-ee's filed a lawsuit against Texas gas station Super Fuels and claimed the Super Fuels' logo is too similar to Buc-ee's. And in November 2024, the chain filed a federal lawsuit against Duckees, a liquor store in southwest Missouri. In the lawsuit, Buc-ee's claimed Duckees printed a similar logo on its products. The logo contains a yellow circle, and inside the shape is a sunglasses-wearing cartoon duck dressed in a green shirt and red bowtie. In response to the lawsuit, Duckees denied the allegations and said any alleged infringement was done "in good faith" and the owners had no idea about Buc-ee's trademarks, reported the Springfield News-Leader, part of the USA TODAY Network. The Duckees also said the logos were used in a "geographically remote area' where customers do not know much about Buc-ee's and its logos. The court was notified of a settlement between April 3 and April 17, the newspaper reported. Where are Buc-ee's convenience stores located? Buc-ee's has 51 locations in Texas, Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The company previously announced plans to expand, including: Amarillo, Texas: 2025 Brunswick, Georgia: 2025 Rockingham County, Virginia: 2026 Boerne, Texas: 2026 Contributing: James Powel, USA TODAY; Tony Madden and Susan Szuch, Springfield News-Leader Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bar-cee's closes, Duckees settles in Bucc-ee's trademark infringement lawsuits
Two Ozarks businesses are making changes in response to trademark infringement lawsuits filed by Texas-based travel center chain Buc-ee's. The first federal lawsuit was filed against Duckees Full Service Drive-Thru in Kimberling City on November 15, 2024. Buc-ee's sues Missouri liquor store Duckees over trademark infringement According to court documents, the lawsuit accuses Duckees of violating a Buc-ee's trademark by using a logo that closely mimics its cartoon beaver logo. It claims that Duckees logo uses 'the most important aspects' behind a Buc-ee's logo, specifically a smiling cartoon animal within a yellow-colored circle. Then in March 2025, Buc-ee's sued Barc-ee's, a travel stop in Marshfield offering a dog rest area, activities for kids, as well as coffee and drinks. In the lawsuit, Buc-ee's points to the Barc-ee's logo as mimicking their logo. 'For example, the Barc-ee's Logo copies Buc-ee's Logo's use of a friendly smiling cartoon animal oriented within a circle with a yellow background encompassed by a black circle. As other examples, the Barc-ee's Logo also copies the Buc-ee's logo with the use of a hat placed on a brown animal with a red tongue and black nose. And in many uses, the Barc-ee's logo includes the use of the similar Barc-ee's mark, even with the use of curving word-style, near the logo image, as Buc-ee's does in many cases when using the Buc-ee's Word Trademark and the Buc-ee's Logo together.' Lawsuit filed on March 19 in U.S. District court for the Western District of Missouri Southern Division The complaint for damages included two trademark infringements, two trademark dilutions, unfair competition and false designation of origin. The owner of Barc-ee's, John Lopez, responded to Ozarks First's request for response with a statement that says, in part: Buc-ee's suing Marshfield business Barc-ee's for trademark infringement 'My legal team believes we are not legally infringing on any trademarks. The remarks from a legal team that specializes in trademarks also believe that I could win if it went to trial, but it may not be worth the fight. Beavers are cunning creatures. Very rare does a small dog go into a fight with a big beaver and come out on top.' John Lopez, owner of Barc-ee's The latest court documents filed in the Duckees lawsuit appear to point to a settlement being reached. On April 17, 2025, the court said it had been notified of a settlement in the case. It states that the court is directing the plaintiff to file a notice of dismissal by October 15, 2025. The document also says if the settlement is not perfected by the October 15 deadline, the plaintiff must file a status report that includes an anticipated timeline. As of the publishing of this article, Duckees was still using its logo on merchandise and in social media posts. Nearly one month since the lawsuit was filed, Barc-ee's announced on social media it had made the decision to close. However, it seems a new venture, with a new name, is being created. While the business has since taken down its original logo and replaced it with a new photo of a smiling, the owner says the women behind the business are 'turning lemons into lemonade.' The post says a new business named 'The Bean & Bubble Babes' will be opening in the next 90 days at the same location as Barc-ees. Barc-ee's described the new venture as 'a bold new pop-up and event-based venture serving up bubble tea, coffee, lemonade, specialty drinks, and sweet treats.' The business also teased ahead to a brand new name, new look, and another location in the future. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Buc-ee's sues Missouri gas station for similar name, logo: This isn't the first time
A Texas-based gas station and convienence store known for its friendly beaver mascot is suing yet another business for trademark infringement. On March 19, Buc-ee's filed a federal lawsuit against Barc-ee's, a business in southwest Missouri that offers a dog park, coffee and food shops and a Western-themed miniature city. Buc-ee's claims that the unauthorized use of its trademarks, including a smiling animal mascot, will benefit the Missouri convenience store at Buc-ee's expense, while falsely informing consumers that the two businesses are related. Here's what to know about the recently-filed lawsuit and others Buc-ee's has filed against small businesses throughout the country. Featuring sprawling gas pumps, large bathrooms and a countless array of Beaver-themed merchandise, Buc-ee's has trademarked its cartoon beaver logo and a plethora of retail products. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. Western District Court of Missouri, claims that the use of "Barc-ee's," in connection with merchandise and travel stop services using a "colorful imitation" of Buc-ee's trademark, is an infringement on the Texas-based business's rights. Buc-ee's also alleges that the Barc-ee's logo, which features a cartoon dog inside a pink car, wearing a hat within a yellow circle background, "mimics important aspects of the iconic Buc-ee's logo." Specifically, Buc-ee's references its merchandise that feature its beaver riding inside a red truck. The lawsuit also claims that Barc-ee's owner John Lopez was inspired by Buc-ee's for his business concept, referencing mention of the inspiration from a Barc-ee's news release before the convenience store opened. "Buc-ee's has invested heavily in innovation across the company to provide the best quality products and experience for our customers," Buc-ee's General Counsel Jeff Nadalo said in a statement shared with USA TODAY on Tuesday. "Buc-ee's will not be an idle spectator while others infringe the intellectual property rights that Buc-ee's has worked so hard to develop." On March 12, Barc-ee's announced on social media that it was temporarily closing due to "unexpected construction challenges." The convenience store, as of Tuesday, remained closed, as its owners assess next steps amid the lawsuit. "Although I prefer my business challenges to come with a side of coffee rather than a court summons, this is just a part of the entrepreneur game," Lopez said in a social media statement on March 24. "My legal team believes we are not legally infringing on any trademarks. Very rare does a small dog go into a fight with a big beaver and come out on top." Missouri's Barc-ee's is one of many businesses that the Texas travel center has sued for trademark infringement. Most recently, Buc-ee's filed a lawsuit against North Texas gas station Super Fuels, claiming that the Super Fuels' logo, which features a brown, smiling dog in a red cape set against a blue background, is too similar to Buc-ee's. Buc-ee's alleges that Super Fuel's anthropomorphic, cartoon mascot could be confusing to consumers upon first glance. "The vast majority of consumers encountering the infringing marks will consist of drivers who are actively operating motor vehicles and are thus incapable of providing anything beyond a brief glance at the infringing marks, which are displayed on the front façade of defendants' stores and on defendants' gas station canopies,' court documents state. As of Tuesday, the lawsuit remained open. In March 2013, Buc-ee's sued Texas-based convenience store Chicks, claiming that Chicks stemmed from similar concepts, including site and store design, product variety, construction and the logo. Though the Chicks logo depicted two smiling chickens, back-to-back, against a red, yellow and black background, Buc-ee's claimed that the logo copied Buc-ee's "iconic marks," like color, shapes and fonts. Though Chicks' lawyers moved to dismiss the complaint, Chicks ultimately closed in 2014. In 2018, Buc-ee's won a federal lawsuit against Choke Canyon, a travel center in South Texas. A jury found that Choke Canyon's alligator logo resembled Buc-ee's too closely, according to the Houston Chronicle. Choke Canyon remains open but with a different logo. In July 2023, an image of a Mexican convenience store called Buk-II's Super Marcado went viral on social media for its humorous replication of Buc-ee's iconic logo. But Buc-ee's didn't find the store funny. Razaaa no me lo van a creer!!!!😂😂 Posted by Ramon Montelongo on Monday, July 24, 2023 Though Buc-ee's threatened legal action, none was taken. Since, the Mexican convenience store has changed its name to Mini Super Buk-II's and changed its logo to a different rodent wearing a red shirt and sporting a mullet. According to Google, the convenience store is now closed. In November 2024, Buc-ee's filed a federal lawsuit against Duckees, a liquor store also located in southwest Missouri. Buc-ee's claimed that Duckees used a similar animal-centric logo on its merchandise −a cartoon duck wearing sunglasses in a green shirt and red bowtie, all inside of a yellow circle. Buc-ee's claimed this logo uses "the most important aspects of the iconic Buc-ee's logo," by including a cartoon animal, a yellow circle as the background and prominent black edges for the mascot. As of Tuesday, the lawsuit remained open. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Buc-ee's sues Missouri Barc-ee's for similar name, logo
USA Today
01-04-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Buc-ee's sues Missouri gas station for similar name, logo: This isn't the first time
Buc-ee's sues Missouri gas station for similar name, logo: This isn't the first time Show Caption Hide Caption What's the big deal about Buc-ee's? We take a roadtrip to find out Buc-ee's, a gas station convenience store chain founded in Texas in the 1980s, has developed a cult following online. Does it live up to the hype? McClatchy - Raleigh News & Observer A Texas-based gas station and convienence store known for its friendly beaver mascot is suing yet another business for trademark infringement. On March 19, Buc-ee's filed a federal lawsuit against Barc-ee's, a business in southwest Missouri that offers a dog park, coffee and food shops and a Western-themed miniature city. Buc-ee's claims that the unauthorized use of its trademarks, including a smiling animal mascot, will benefit the Missouri convenience store at Buc-ee's expense, while falsely informing consumers that the two businesses are related. Here's what to know about the recently-filed lawsuit and others Buc-ee's has filed against small businesses throughout the country. Why is Buc-ee's suing a Missouri convenience store? Featuring sprawling gas pumps, large bathrooms and a countless array of Beaver-themed merchandise, Buc-ee's has trademarked its cartoon beaver logo and a plethora of retail products. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. Western District Court of Missouri, claims that the use of "Barc-ee's," in connection with merchandise and travel stop services using a "colorful imitation" of Buc-ee's trademark, is an infringement on the Texas-based business's rights. Buc-ee's also alleges that the Barc-ee's logo, which features a cartoon dog inside a pink car, wearing a hat within a yellow circle background, "mimics important aspects of the iconic Buc-ee's logo." Specifically, Buc-ee's references its merchandise that feature its beaver riding inside a red truck. The lawsuit also claims that Barc-ee's owner John Lopez was inspired by Buc-ee's for his business concept, referencing mention of the inspiration from a Barc-ee's news release before the convenience store opened. "Buc-ee's has invested heavily in innovation across the company to provide the best quality products and experience for our customers," Buc-ee's General Counsel Jeff Nadalo said in a statement shared with USA TODAY on Tuesday. "Buc-ee's will not be an idle spectator while others infringe the intellectual property rights that Buc-ee's has worked so hard to develop." On March 12, Barc-ee's announced on social media that it was temporarily closing due to "unexpected construction challenges." The convenience store, as of Tuesday, remained closed, as its owners assess next steps amid the lawsuit. "Although I prefer my business challenges to come with a side of coffee rather than a court summons, this is just a part of the entrepreneur game," Lopez said in a social media statement on March 24. "My legal team believes we are not legally infringing on any trademarks. Very rare does a small dog go into a fight with a big beaver and come out on top." What other businesses has Buc-ee's sued? Missouri's Barc-ee's is one of many businesses that the Texas travel center has sued for trademark infringement. January 2025: Super Fuels in Texas Most recently, Buc-ee's filed a lawsuit against North Texas gas station Super Fuels, claiming that the Super Fuels' logo, which features a brown, smiling dog in a red cape set against a blue background, is too similar to Buc-ee's. Buc-ee's alleges that Super Fuel's anthropomorphic, cartoon mascot could be confusing to consumers upon first glance. "The vast majority of consumers encountering the infringing marks will consist of drivers who are actively operating motor vehicles and are thus incapable of providing anything beyond a brief glance at the infringing marks, which are displayed on the front façade of defendants' stores and on defendants' gas station canopies,' court documents state. As of Tuesday, the lawsuit remained open. 2013: Chicks in Texas In March 2013, Buc-ee's sued Texas-based convenience store Chicks, claiming that Chicks stemmed from similar concepts, including site and store design, product variety, construction and the logo. Though the Chicks logo depicted two smiling chickens, back-to-back, against a red, yellow and black background, Buc-ee's claimed that the logo copied Buc-ee's "iconic marks," like color, shapes and fonts. Though Chicks' lawyers moved to dismiss the complaint, Chicks ultimately closed in 2014. 2018: Choke Canyon in Texas In 2018, Buc-ee's won a federal lawsuit against Choke Canyon, a travel center in South Texas. A jury found that Choke Canyon's alligator logo resembled Buc-ee's too closely, according to the Houston Chronicle. Choke Canyon remains open but with a different logo. 2023: Buk-II's Super Mercado in Mexico In July 2023, an image of a Mexican convenience store called Buk-II's Super Marcado went viral on social media for its humorous replication of Buc-ee's iconic logo. But Buc-ee's didn't find the store funny. Though Buc-ee's threatened legal action, none was taken. Since, the Mexican convenience store has changed its name to Mini Super Buk-II's and changed its logo to a different rodent wearing a red shirt and sporting a mullet. According to Google, the convenience store is now closed. 2024: Missouri's Duckees In November 2024, Buc-ee's filed a federal lawsuit against Duckees, a liquor store also located in southwest Missouri. Buc-ee's claimed that Duckees used a similar animal-centric logo on its merchandise −a cartoon duck wearing sunglasses in a green shirt and red bowtie, all inside of a yellow circle. Buc-ee's claimed this logo uses "the most important aspects of the iconic Buc-ee's logo," by including a cartoon animal, a yellow circle as the background and prominent black edges for the mascot. As of Tuesday, the lawsuit remained open. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
