Ohio Governor Calls Buc-ees Lawsuit Against Small Mini Mart ‘Ridiculous’

A beloved Texas gas station chain just picked a fight it may not win in the court of public opinion. Buc-ee’s is suing a small, family-run convenience store in Beavercreek, Ohio, over its beaver logo, and the backlash has reached the governor’s office. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine publicly called the lawsuit “ridiculous” at the Ohio State Fair. Comedian John Oliver had already dared the chain to try something like this on someone its own size.

Beaver’s Mini Mart Has Sat on Hanes Road for More Than Two Decades

Beaver’s Mini Mart has operated at 1592 Hanes Road in Beavercreek for more than 20 years, long before Buc-ee’s ever set foot in Ohio. The store has no gas pumps and sits roughly 16 miles from the nearest Buc-ee’s location. Its logo features a smiling, unclothed cartoon beaver in red lettering. Beavers are a running theme across Beavercreek, showing up on the local high school mascot and numerous business signs around town.

Buc-ee’s Lawsuit Targets a Beaver With ‘Wide Eyes and a Smile’

According to a lawsuit filed in federal court against the mini mart, Buc-ee’s claims the store’s cartoon beaver, with its wide eyes, smile and prominent red coloring, closely resembles its own trademarked mascot and could confuse customers into thinking the two businesses are connected. The company is asking a judge to force Beaver’s Mini Mart to drop its name and logo, hand over any related marketing materials and pay damages plus attorney’s fees. Buc-ee’s has also requested a jury trial. 

Owner Vik Boparai: ‘This Store Is How I Feed My Kids’

Vik Boparai has run the mini mart for years, well before Buc-ee’s expanded out of Texas in 2018. “I don’t know why they would sue a small business like mine,” Boparai told The Cincinnati Enquirer. “I have two kids and this store is how I feed them.” In a statement, the store thanked the Beavercreek community for its support and said the family intends to fight the lawsuit in court rather than change its branding.

DeWine: ‘It’s Beavercreek, for Heaven’s Sake’

Speaking to reporters at the Ohio State Fair on Aug. 5, DeWine said Buc-ee’s should drop the case entirely. “It just seems to me that they need to dismiss this lawsuit, this is ridiculous,” he said, according to the Journal-News. “It’s Beavercreek, for heaven’s sake. You expect to find, in Beavercreek, things named ‘beaver.'” He added that lawsuits like this one risk “creating ill-will” toward a chain Ohioans otherwise love. 

Cincy Shirts Sells ‘Beaver in a Business Suit’ Merch for the Mini Mart

Cincinnati apparel company Cincy Shirts, co-owned by comedian Josh Sneed, designed a t-shirt and hat supporting the mini mart, with all proceeds going toward its legal fund. One product description calls Buc-ee’s case “about as reasonable as a beaver in a business suit.” A local bakery joined in with solidarity cookies that quickly sold out, and a GoFundMe for the store has raised more than $45,000 from supporters nationwide.

Buc-ee’s Has Sued Beaver’s, Barc-ee’s, Mickey’s and Teddy’s Over Mascots

This is not Buc-ee’s first fight over a cartoon animal. The chain has filed nearly a dozen trademark lawsuits in recent years, including against Missouri dog park Barc-ee’s in 2025, Ohio convenience chain Mickey’s over its moose logo in February 2026, and Georgia’s Teddy’s Markets in May 2026. Most targets settle, redesign their logos or close entirely, since few have the resources to fight a company Buc-ee’s size in court.

John Oliver Dares Buc-ee’s to ‘Bring It On’ in 13-Minute Segment

On the July 26 episode of “Last Week Tonight,” John Oliver spent more than 13 minutes examining Buc-ee’s pattern of suing companies with animal mascots. He cited a legal expert who warned the chain that continuing to target small businesses raises the odds it eventually runs into “somebody who has the means or the will to fight.” Oliver then made clear he intended to be exactly that opponent, reviving an old mascot of his own to prove it. 

Mr. Nutterbutter’s ‘Buc-Off’ Merch Sends Profits to Hunger Free America

Oliver brought back Mr. Nutterbutter, a 7-foot squirrel mascot from a 2017 segment, and gave him a new “Buc-Off” logo mimicking Buc-ee’s own trademark style. The merchandise line, including shirts, hats and mugs, is available at Buc-off.com through Sept. 8, with proceeds benefiting Hunger Free America. “If any prominent gas station chain out there has an issue with our new logo… bring it on,” Oliver said. Buc-ee’s has since told reporters it does not plan to sue. 

A Small Ohio Store Becomes a Test of Buc-ee’s Legal Playbook

Beaver’s Mini Mart has become an unlikely symbol of resistance against one of the country’s most aggressive trademark enforcers. Community fundraisers, a sitting governor and a national television host have all lined up against a lawsuit over a beaver logo in a town named Beavercreek. Buc-ee’s built its brand on goodwill and Texas-sized hospitality. This case shows how quickly that goodwill can erode when a beloved chain turns its legal team on the little guy.