Famed San Francisco restaurant Quince is embroiled in an ugly trademark battle with e-commerce startup Quince.com after accusing the retailer of diluting its brand.
Quince, which has three Michelin stars and is called one of the best restaurants in the world, last week asked a federal judge for a preliminary injunction banning Quince.com from using the name.
Under the guidance of chef and co-founder Michael Tusk, Quince complains that it has received at least one negative Yelp review intended for Quince.com, showing customer confusion about the name.
The restaurant says it has also received packages, including one filled with sheepskin rugs intended as return items for Quince.com, and calls with customer service complaints intended for the retailer.
Zachary Briers, an attorney for Quince.com, told the San Francisco Chronicle that the restaurant’s lawsuit is “meritless” and promised that the e-commerce company would not change its name.
Helmed by chef and co-founder Michael Tusk (pictured), Quince complains it has received at least one negative Yelp review aimed at e-commerce site Quince.com
The restaurant Quince, seen above, has been around for twenty years and is one of twelve restaurants in the US with three Michelin stars
“They sell cashmere sweaters and sheepskin boots, necklaces and comforters,” Briers said of Quince.com.
“A restaurant with one location has no right to exclude others from using similar names in completely unrelated industries.”
Founded in 2018 and led by CEO Sid Gupta, Quince.com was originally known as ‘Last Brand’ until the name changed around 2020.
The company describes itself as “a curated online marketplace that sells high-quality fashion and home goods at radically low prices.”
Like the restaurant, the e-commerce site is based in San Francisco, which Quince said has contributed to customer confusion.
The Quince restaurant has been around for twenty years and is one of twelve restaurants in the US with three Michelin stars, the highest rating offered by the famous guide.
The restaurant has a registered trademark on Quince for catering services, dining and culinary entertainment events.
Quince also has a pending trademark application for use of the name for restaurant services and bar services.
Quince.com has trademarks on the name for online retail services and household goods, which are being challenged by the restaurant.
Founded in 2018 and led by CEO Sid Gupta (above), Quince.com was originally known as ‘Last Brand’ until the name changed around 2020.
The Quince.com website can be seen above. The company describes itself as a ‘curated online marketplace selling high-quality fashion and home goods at radically low prices’
According to the lawsuit, Chef Tusk and his wife Lindsay decided to name the eatery after the fruit because “unlike an apple, a quince fruit cannot be eaten as is; rather, the process by which it can be eaten is long and arduous, which is similar to the process of opening and maintaining a restaurant.”
In December 2022, after noticing strange Yelp reviews, the restaurant says it sent Quince.com a cease and desist letter asking it to drop the name.
The restaurant filed a federal trademark lawsuit against the retailer in November 2023.
According to the lawsuit, Quince.com last month launched a line of cookware advertised as “Michelin-worthy,” “professional” and “Made in Italy.”
“Plaintiff is a three-star Michelin restaurant selling Italian and French cuisine and its executive chef, Chef Tusk, regularly collaborates with cookware brands,” the restaurant said in a filing last week.
“These and other cases further described below have resulted in actual confusion among both Plaintiff’s and Defendant’s customers.”
Quince.com has until February 20 to respond to the restaurant’s motion for a temporary ban on the use of the name.
Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin will hear oral arguments on the motion on March 21.
Attorneys for Quince and Quince.com did not immediately respond to requests for comment from DailyMail.com on Tuesday afternoon.