The Texas-based gas station chain Buc-ee’s has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Beaver’s Mini Mart, a small business located in Beavercreek, Ohio. The corporation alleges that the store’s name and branding conflict with its own trademarked beaver mascot and brand identity. Buc-ee’s stated the legal action followed multiple unsuccessful attempts to contact the store owner to resolve the matter.
The dispute began after Vic Boparai, the owner of the Beavercreek store, registered the trade name Beaver’s Mini Mart in October. According to state records, the business was originally incorporated as Hanes Road Carryout in 2017 before changing its name in January 2025. This name change occurred approximately four months after Buc-ee’s broke ground on a new large-scale travel center in the nearby Dayton area.
Buc-ee’s maintains that it is legally obligated to protect its brand from potential consumer confusion. The company has a history of similar litigation, including a February lawsuit against Mickey Mart, an Ohio gas station chain, over a moose mascot that Buc-ee's argued was too similar to its beaver logo. Boparai has not issued a formal legal response to the allegations but publicly thanked the community for supporting his and other small businesses.
The outcome of this case could set a precedent for how trademark laws apply to businesses in municipalities named after animals. Beavercreek residents and local officials, including the City Council, argue the beaver is a historical symbol of the town, which has a 200-year history. If Buc-ee’s successfully restricts the use of beaver-related branding in the area, other local retailers—such as the nearby Lego shop and root beer store that have adopted the mascot in solidarity—may face similar legal pressure or be forced to undergo rebranding.
In the immediate term, customers at local bakeries will see the effects in their purchases, with shops like The Original Goodie Shop and Cake, Hope & Love selling beaver-themed cookies to fund the legal defense. The Beavercreek City Council has already passed a unanimous resolution to affirm the beaver’s role in local history. The next steps in the legal process, including court dates or deadlines for Boparai’s formal response to the lawsuit, have not yet been reported.