- Buc-ee's filed a federal lawsuit against Beaver's Mini Mart on July 28, alleging that its beaver logo causes confusion among customers.
- The hashtag #BoycottBucees is trending on X, reflecting public sympathy for Beaver's Mini Mart, which has been a staple in Beavercreek for decades.
- Local businesses, including The Original Goodie Shop and a Dayton bar, have started fundraising efforts to support Beaver's Mini Mart's legal defense.
- A judge has ordered both Buc-ee's and Beaver's Mini Mart to exchange settlement proposals by August 18.
- Buc-ee's opened its first locations in Ohio earlier this year, marking its expansion into the state.
- In February, Buc-ee's sued Mickey's, a gas station that uses a moose logo, indicating a pattern of legal action against small businesses.
- Two days before the lawsuit against Beaver's Mini Mart, John Oliver initiated a trademark trolling campaign featuring his squirrel mascot, Mr. Nutterbutter.
Buc-ee's has initiated a trademark lawsuit against Beaver's Mini Mart in Beavercreek, Ohio, alleging that the mini-mart's beaver logo is too similar to its own. The lawsuit claims the cartoon beaver's "wide eyes and a smile" and predominant use of red could confuse customers.17
The lawsuit, filed on July 28, has drawn significant public backlash, with the hashtag #BoycottBucees trending on social media. Supporters of Beaver's Mini Mart, a local staple for decades, have rallied to its defense, criticizing Buc-ee's for targeting smaller businesses that lack the resources to fight back legally.23
Comedian John Oliver recently highlighted Buc-ee's legal tactics, suggesting they engage in trademark trolling against smaller retailers. He noted that Buc-ee's has a history of suing businesses that use woodland animal branding, including a previous lawsuit against Mickey's, a gas station in Ohio.89
In response to the lawsuit, local businesses have begun fundraising efforts to support Beaver's Mini Mart's legal defense. For instance, The Original Goodie Shop in Upper Arlington is donating $1 from each cookie sold to the mini-mart's legal fees, while a Dayton store is selling T-shirts with proceeds going to the cause.45
Buc-ee's claims it attempted to resolve the issue amicably before resorting to legal action, but the owner of Beaver's Mini Mart has since applied for a federal trademark for its logo.
“The lawsuit follows Buc-ee's February suit against Mickey's, a gas station with a moose logo, and comes two days after John Oliver launched a trademark trolling campaign with his squirrel mascot. Local businesses are fundraising, with The Original Goodie Shop donating $1 per cookie and a Dayton bar selling $25 T-shirts for legal fees.”
Cleveland.com
