S. Side chicken restaurant waffles on name
BRONZEVILLE | Rosscoe's agrees to change it after California chain sues
Two restaurateurs -- one in Chicago, the other in Southern California -- who specialize in fried chicken served with waffles appear to have ironed out their differences over a very popular name.
Or, as U.S. District Judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayan put it Wednesday in a Chicago courtroom: "I see that both parties understand the issues and facts of life, and none of the parties are waffling on the issue."
(Scott Stewart/Sun-Times)
Darnell Johnson, the owner of Rosscoe's Chicken and Waffles in Chicago, has agreed to change the name of his Bronzeville restaurant after Herb Hudson, who owns Roscoe's House of Chicken 'N Waffles, a small chain in California, sued in federal court in Chicago this week for trademark infringement.
Darnell Johnson opened his restaurant last month and has seen long lines of customers.
Johnson said Wednesday he knows and admires Hudson and thought he had Hudson's permission to use the name "Rosscoe" -- with the extra "S" -- in Chicago. Johnson said he has no problem changing his restaurant signs.
" 'Chicago's Home of Chicken and Waffles' sounds great to me," Johnson said.
Hudson didn't return calls Wednesday for omment.
He said he's heard Hudson is considering opening a restaurant in Chicago.
If he does, Johnson said, "We'll have to have a good old-fashioned cookoff."