Community Corner
Sushi Mike vs. Mike Sushi: A Trademark Violation?
Two sushi establishments with similar names lawyer up.
Mike Suzuki, AKA "Sushi Mike," is known for being an affable, upbeat host at his . Yet ever since he learned that a competitor calls himself "Mike Sushi," he hasn’t been very happy.
Both Sushi Mike and Mike Sushi—whose name is Michael Lee—have hired lawyers and may potentially be heading to federal court over an alleged trademark violation.
Lee, whose business headquarters is based in Queens, operates eight locations, most of them in DeCicco’s markets, including Ardsley, along with Cherry Lawn Farm in New Rochelle and Mount Kisco Seafood.
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Suzuki claims that his lawyer has called Lee’s stores, which are not identified by in-store signage, only on a web site and on its chopstick covers, and asked the person who answers the phone if the company is affiliated with Sushi Mike. Often, they claim, the people who answer the phones say yes.
“They are a restaurant and we are in supermarkets,” said Lee. “We are not the same. They call here and my guys don’t speak English well, so they don’t understand.”
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Lee claims that he has called himself Mike Sushi since 2000. Sushi Mike’s opened in 2002 at the corner of Main and Cedar streets in Dobbs Ferry.
“It creates confusion among the customers,” said Suzuki. “I got a call once from a woman who asked if she could pick up her party platter in our Scarsdale store. I told her ‘we don’t have a Scarsdale store.’ This kind of thing hurts my business.”
DeCicco’s has a Scarsdale outlet, to which the caller seemingly referred.
Last January, Suzuki’s attorney, Brian Higbie, sent Lee a cease and desist letter; Lee went out and hired a lawyer.
“They can’t accept the fact that my client has been in business longer than they have,” said Lee’s counsel, Peter Klose. “We have prior use and we’re not going to change the name unless we’re forced to or we’re paid to.”
For the moment, the issue remains at an impasse. “I don’t want any problem to begin with,” said Suzuki. “He does his business, I do my business, but it’s a mess right now.”