In the city of Beavercreek, there's no shortage of beavers. The high school, statues around town and countless businesses are emblazoned with different depictions of the semi-aquatic rodent.
Buc-ee's has a problem with that.
The Texas-based gas station chain is suing Beaver's Mini Mart, a small corner store that has sat in the middle of a Beavercreek neighborhood for more than two decades, according to a federal lawsuit filed July 28.
Despite the mini mart having no gas pumps and being miles from the nearest interstate, Buc-ee's says its customers may be confused by the mini mart's logo, which features a smiling beaver standing tall next to the store's name in a red-letter font.
Vik Boparai has owned the mini mart for more than a decade, years before Buc-ee's first expanded out of Texas in 2018 and long before it opened its first Ohio store north of Dayton in April.
Boparai says the store has used its logo since it first opened – just like numerous other businesses across Beavercreek, a Dayton suburb about an hour north of Cincinnati.
"I don't know why they would sue a small business like mine," Boparai said. "I have two kids and this store is how I feed them."
Beavercreek councilman Zach Upton was equally shocked when he heard that the mini mart was in Buc-ee's crosshairs. Upton said the lawsuit is an overreach of Buc-ee's desire to protect their brand.
"Common sense is not prevailing," Upton said. "I can't imagine anyone would be confused by the mini mart and Buc-ee's. It's not even in the same ballpark."
Upton recounted how a number of businesses, nonprofits and even the town's annual popcorn festival all use cartoon beavers in their logos.
Buc-ee's did not respond to an Enquirer email asking whether the chain has plans to sue other businesses featuring beavers in Beavercreek.
"Buc-ee's needs to take a step back," Upton said.
It's one of many lawsuits Buc-ee's has filed over the years against businesses it claims has logos too similar to its own. In February, the chain sued the owner of the Ohio gas station chain Mickey Mart, claiming its smiling cartoon moose was too close to its ballcap-wearing beaver.
Criticism has been growing against the chain, including by comedian and "Last Week Tonight" host John Oliver. Oliver ended an episode last week by inviting the company to "Buc-off" and announced he's selling his own variation of the chain's logo to try and goad Buc-ee's into suing him.
Boparai said Buc-ee's never reached out to him before the lawsuit to ask about the name or the logo, or demand he take it down. Now he's planning on fighting it in court.
"It's Buc-ee's acting like they control all the animals across the world," Boparai said. "Are they going to sue the schools and the city next?"
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: In a city full of beavers, Buc-ee's takes issue with this store's logo