A Phoenix dumpling joint has switched its name from Lovesack Dumpling to Lovebite Dumpling. The Roosevelt Row newcomer had barely warmed its seats when the furniture giant Lovesac flagged a potential lawsuit over trademark issues, forcing the eatery into a hasty rebranding. Angel Gould, the English-born owner, initially christened her establishment Lovesack Dumpling to reflect its core offering of cozy, comfort food.
Gould told Phoenix New Times that she did her due diligence before opening, including seeking legal advice to avoid just such a predicament. However, "It’s frustrating that a big corporation can just have more money than you, and even if you’re on the right side of the law they can keep litigating against you," Gould explained. Despite the upfront legal legwork, the name change was a blow to the startup, which seeks to carefully deliver a late-night dining option in downtown Phoenix.
The restaurant, which serves dumplings with rice, noodles, or salad and coupled with an assortment of sauces, was barely a month old when the legal notice arrived. The furniture company's challenge effectively cornered Gould into a name-change or face a costly legal battle. Choosing the former, a community-involved approach enlisted patrons for name suggestions. Gould put up signs in the restaurant and received over 2,000 responses, ultimately selecting the name 'Lovebite' contributed by an anonymous customer, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix.
Announcing the change on Instagram, Lovebite Dumpling, located at 116 E. Roosevelt St., thanked their customers for the pivot, saying, "Silly little pivot inspired by Lovesac furniture corp pressing on us until we changed our name." The shop is embracing its new identity and is intent on continuing to dish out what Gould remembers fondly from her time in England - a place for friends to gather and enjoy food after a night out - a sentiment she shared in a previous interview with Phoenix New Times.
Lovesac has not publicly commented on the case.
