Wawa Settles Trademark Case With N.J. C-Store

NEWARK, N.J. — The trademark infringement fight between Wawa Inc. and a New Jersey convenience store is nearing an end.

Facing a legal challenge from the convenience retail chain, the owner of Dawa Food Mart in Paterson has agreed to change its name, according to the Courier-Post.

Citing filings in federal court in Newark, the news outlet reported Dawa’s owner, Sang Taek Han, will stop using the name. The filing provides no details about Dawa’s new name. The proposed order, which includes a permanent injunction barring the use of the Dawa name, has been submitted for the approval of U.S. District Judge Katherine Hayden in Newark.

Han opened his convenience store approximately two years ago and has previously said Dawa means welcome in Korean, his native language. 

Wawa filed its trademark infringement suit in February, as CSNews Online previously reported.

According to the report, the c-store would have to change its name within 90 days of court approval. It would also have to use or destroy all materials with the Dawa name by that deadline.

In return, Wawa would drop demands for compensatory damages as well as legal expenses and attorneys' fees from the c-store operator. 

The small retailer would be obligated to pay $12,000 to Wawa if it violates the proposed agreement.

Pennsylvania-based Wawa operates more than 750 convenience stores, with more than 500 offering gas, in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Florida.