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Starbucks to sue aboriginal cafe, HaidaBucks
Last Updated Fri, 25 Apr 2003 11:28:14

MASSET, B.C. - Coffee giant Starbucks is threatening to take a small restaurant in British Columbia to court over its name, HaidaBucks.

The restaurant has been operating since 1999 and is located on the Queen Charlotte Islands.

Co-owner Darren Swanson says the "bucks" part of his establishment's name refers to aboriginal culture, not coffee culture.

"Aboriginal men were called bucks and we're also Haidas, so Haidabucks," said Swanson. "The three aboriginal partners are all Haidas. That's how we came up with the name."

BACKGROUNDER: HaidaBucks

Swanson says his restaurant has a longhouse façade and looks nothing like a Starbucks. HaidaBucks is a 60-seat full service restaurant offering everything from coffee to quesadillas to seafood specials.

Officials at the coffee conglomerate say they will take legal action to stop the "confusing variation" of their name.

"I couldn't see a StarBucks opening here for another 150 years…it's a pretty isolated place," Swanson says refering to the town of Masset, population 1,500.

"It's got nothing to do with them."

Swanson says he's not backing down.

"Lots of men out there are called Haida bucks. It's kind of our pet name."

Swanson says he'd rather spend money fighting Starbucks than changing the restaurant's name.