BEAVERCREEK, Ohio — Texas-based travel center giant Buc-ee’s has filed a federal trademark infringement lawsuit against a local Beavercreek convenience store, claiming the small business’s logo looks too similar to its iconic beaver mascot.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court, targets Beaver’s Mini Mart, located on Hanes Road in Beavercreek.
According to court documents, Buc-ee’s alleges that the cartoon beaver featured on the mini-mart’s sign infringes on its protected trademark. The national chain points out that both logos utilize a cartoon beaver with wide eyes and a smile set against a similar shade of red.
Buc-ee’s argues in the filing that these visual similarities are “likely to cause confusion” among consumers, who could mistakenly believe there is a business connection or association between the local convenience store and the massive travel center brand.
In response to the legal challenge, the owner of Beaver’s Mini Mart released a statement defending the store’s branding as a nod to its home city:
“We want to take a moment to thank you—our amazing customers and the Beavercreek community—for your unwavering support over the years. You may have heard that we are currently facing a lawsuit filed by Buc-ee’s for simply using a beaver in our store name and branding. We created Beavers Mini Mart to represent our connection to this community and the city we proudly serve—Beavercreek. This lawsuit is unfair, and we believe small businesses should be able to operate without being bullied by large corporations. We are standing up for our rights and will fight this lawsuit all the way.”
Beaver’s Mini Mart has until approximately August 19 to submit its formal response to the lawsuit in federal court.
