Apr 9, 2008 6:21 pm US/Central
Chicken And Waffle Houses In L.A., Chicago Fight
Roscoe's in L.A. Says Rosscoe's In Chicago Has Stolen Its Name; Chicago Restaurant Agrees To Change
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Rosscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles in Chicago has had a change of heart and soon will have a change of name.
The restaurant is being sued for trademark infringement by a Los Angeles chain that's become famous as Roscoe's House of Chicken 'n Waffles.
Darnell Johnson is the owner of the restaurant in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, and he agreed Wednesday to change its name to Chicago's Home of Chicken and Waffles.
That might not be enough to settle the lawsuit. Attorney Steve Rosenfeld says he intends to seek damages for trademark infringement on behalf of LA's Roscoe's.
Wednesday afternoon Johnson greeted his customers, telling of the name change ordered in federal court. The judge, Johnson said, even made a joke.
"'There's no waffling around.' That was his exact words," Johnson said. "We all laughed in court."
The chain is legendary in Los Angeles.
The Chicago restaurant name is similar, with the difference being Rosscoe is spelled with a double-S and the word 'and' is spelled out.
In Chicago, Rosscoe's is spelled with an additional "s," just like the East Coast restaurants.
"I had it in New York 10 years, Rosscoe's," Johnson said.
The cartoon chicken holding a waffle is similar to L.A.'s signage. And of course, the pairing of fried chicken and waffles on the same plate is key.
The L.A. owner may have gotten his way, but the name seems secondary to Chicagoans.
"It shouldn't matter, long as he don't change the food," said customer Kim Frazier.
"The name doesn't matter," said customer Syreeta Goodwin. "It's the quality of the food, the presence of the people."
Whatever the name, the successful new business is welcomed in Bronzeville.
"This is exciting, a fabulous venture for this neighborhood for sure from the looks of things," said customer Lana Cromwell. "I think it's going to be here for a while."
The legal battle is not completely over. Herb Hudson, the Los Angeles originator of Roscoe's, says he will seek damages.
And he plans to bring his restaurant to Chicago to compete against Johnson's place.
Johnson says they'll have a cook-off to see who wins.
CBS 2's Joanie Lum and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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