Buc-ee's sidesteps John Oliver challenge, files trademark suit against Ohio mini-mart

During a recent episode of Last Week Tonight, John Oliver mocked Buc-ee's and challenged the company to sue him over a squirrel-themed product bearing the phrase “Buc-Off.” The chain has not responded to that provocation. Instead, Buc-ee's has turned its legal focus to Beaver's Mini Mart, a decades-old convenience store in Beavercreek, Ohio.

The retailer alleges that the mini-mart’s cartoon beaver, featuring wide eyes, a smile, and a dominant red color, is too similar to Buc-ee's own branding and could mislead consumers. The complaint was filed days after Buc-ee's announced its first Ohio locations earlier this year. The lawsuit adds to a pattern of Buc-ee's pursuing small businesses over trademark issues, while Oliver and his mascot have previously avoided litigation. The case highlights the tension between a rapidly expanding national chain and local enterprises with limited legal resources.