Buc-ee’s, the Texas travel center chain that opened its first Ohio location earlier this year, has filed a lawsuit against Beaver’s Mini Mart in Beavercreek, Ohio, accusing the small business of trademark infringement. The suit, filed days ago, claims that Beaver’s Mini Mart’s cartoon beaver mascot—with its “wide eyes and a smile” and predominant use of red—is too similar to Buc-ee’s own mascot and could cause customer confusion.

The Buc-ee’s location in Huber Heights, Ohio, is approximately 16 miles from Beaver’s Mini Mart. While Buc-ee’s has been operating in Ohio since April, Beaver’s Mini Mart has served customers in the community for decades. Local resident Sam Bryan expressed disappointment over Buc-ee’s legal actions, telling Nexstar’s WDTN, “It just put a bad taste in my mouth because they just seem like such a fun company. To see this, that they’re coming after a small business like this, it upset me like it did a lot of Beavercreek residents.”

The community is rallying to support Beaver’s Mini Mart financially. Notably, other gas stations known as Mickey’s have been using their Mickey the Moose mascot since at least 2020, predating Buc-ee’s entry into Ohio.

This lawsuit follows a pattern of Buc-ee’s aggressively protecting its trademarks. Last month, “Last Week Tonight” host John Oliver criticized Buc-ee’s for its lawsuits and invited the company to sue him. Additionally, Nexstar’s KOLR reported that a Missouri business settled while another closed after Buc-ee’s accused both of trademark infringement.

Sources