John Oliver said the Buc-Off store will remain open past its planned Sept. 8 closing date while Buc-ee’s pursues its Beaver’s Mini Mart lawsuit in Ohio. The Last Week Tonight host used the Aug. 9 episode to renew his criticism of the gas chain and its trademark case against the Beavercreek business.
Oliver’s show created Buc-Off as a parody merchandise operation after an earlier segment about Buc-ee’s legal disputes involving animal mascots. The products use the show’s squirrel character, Mr. Nutterbutter, in a circular logo. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that Oliver said the campaign had raised almost $500,000 for Hunger Free America as of the Aug. 9 broadcast.
Oliver had initially set Sept. 8 as the store’s closing date. He told viewers it would now remain open while Buc-ee’s continues its case against Beaver’s Mini Mart. The reporting in the record does not indicate that Buc-ee’s has sued Oliver, HBO or the Buc-Off operation.
What does Buc-ee’s allege in its lawsuit against Beaver’s Mini Mart?
Buc-ee’s sued Hanes Road Carryout, the operator of Beaver’s Mini Mart, on July 28 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. The lawsuit remains pending, according to 10TV.
According to 10TV’s summary of the complaint, Buc-ee’s alleges that the mini mart uses a cartoon beaver with wide eyes and a smile, a red color scheme and other branding that could lead customers to believe the businesses are affiliated. Buc-ee’s asks the court to stop use of the disputed name and logo, require destruction of materials bearing the marks, and award damages, legal fees and other relief.
Oliver disputed the idea that the logos could confuse consumers during his Aug. 9 program. That is Oliver’s view, not a court finding. No outcome has been reported in the federal case.
Buc-ee’s says it tried to resolve the dispute first
Buc-ee’s told 10TV that it became aware of the mini mart after owner Vikramjit Boparai filed an Ohio trade-name registration on Oct. 23, 2025. The company said it tried to reach Boparai by FedEx in March and April and attempted an in-person delivery at the store in June before filing suit. Those are the company’s assertions.
The local reaction has become part of the story. Several Beavercreek-area businesses temporarily altered their logos to add beavers, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. WXIX also reported that a bakery directed proceeds from certain sales toward the mini mart and that the business said it would fight the lawsuit.
Buc-ee’s opened its first Ohio store in Huber Heights earlier in 2026, 10TV reported. For now, the case and Oliver’s deliberately provocative merch campaign are running on separate tracks.
This story draws on original reporting from Techdirt.
