As Buc-ee's and a small convenience store continue to battle, Beavercreek, Ohio, is taking some matters into its own hands. On Monday, Beavercreek City Council passed a resolution to formally affirm the beaver as a historic community symbol. Beavercreek City Schools mascot Bucky the Beaver (not to be confused with another Bucky the Beaver) was in attendance to witness the resolution's unanimous passage.
"For the citizens of Beavercreek, the beaver is not just a corporate marketing device," Beavercreek City Council's Resolution 26-37 states. "It is a recognized representation of the city's identity, history, and values, held in common by generations of residents."
Citizens of Beavercreek will likely cheer the move. On July 28, Texas travel giant Buc-ee's sued local convenience store Beaver's Mini Mart in federal court, alleging trademark infringement. Buc-ee's opened its first Ohio location in Huber Heights in April, marking a record-breaking day for the company. Beaver's Mini Mart has been using the name since at least 2019.
In a statement, Buc-ee's pointed to Beaver's owner Vikramjit Singh Boparai filing the name "Beaver's Mini Mart" with the Ohio Trade Name Registration, which the company says conflicts with its federally registered trademark.
The Texas travel center has earned a reputation for its lawsuits in recent years, targeting other convenience stores and gas stations or even other companies with animal mascots, including an underwear brand called "Nuthuggers." Last Week Tonight's John Oliver pointed out Buc-ee's penchant for lawsuits in a July 26 episode, two days before the company filed suit against Beaver's. (The HBO late-night host is currently baiting Buc-ee's to sue him with a line of "Buc-Off" merch. Buc-ee's has reportedly not engaged with Last Week Tonight.)
The fight between Buc-ee's and Beaver's has reached a national stage, with Oliver covering the saga on Last Week Tonight's Aug. 9 episode. Other local businesses are incorporating beavers into their logos in support. Cincy Shirts in Cincinnati is selling merch with the Beaver's Mini Mart logo to help fund Beaver's and its case. As of this writing, a GoFundMe for Beaver's has raised more than $60,000.
"We hope that Buc-ee's will drop their lawsuit soon," Boparai told 2NEWS. "We could never have anticipated this situation developing; and could not have imagined the support from the entire community. Beavercreek is a great place for our family and our business."
However, Beavercreek officials say the resolution has nothing to do with Buc-ee's lawsuit against Beaver's.
"The resolution is not associated with the federal trademark lawsuit between Buc-ee's and Beaver's Mini Mart," a city spokesperson said, according to Fox 19. "That lawsuit is a private legal matter currently before the courts, and the city cannot take a position on pending litigation."
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This article originally published at Ohio town battling with Buc-ee's declares beaver historic symbol.