Besaw's Owner and Landlord Both Plan to Re-Open Besaw's—in Different Locations

Owner Cana Flug and landlord C.E. John have competing federal trademark claims

The plot thickens on 112-year-old icon Besaw's, which we reported earlier today would close May 29, after lease talks broke down abruptly. It now appears that two separate factions each intend to re-open Besaw's in two different locations, and both plan to re-open as Besaw's. 

Current Besaw's owner Cana Flug plans to re-open Besaw's at a new location nearby in the neighborhood, with the same chef and staff—even going as far as to find temporary employment for their staffers. Meanwhile, landlord C.E. John says they want to re-open Besaw's in the same location as part of a larger development of the property, and plans to find a new operator for the restaurant.

"We fully intend to keep Besaw's as part of the redevelopment," says Jeff Thompson, co-president of C.E. John. "It's got incredible history, absolutely."

Both Flug and C.E. John have filed competing federal trademark claims on the name "Besaw's," and these competing claims are part of why lease negotiations halted, says Flug. C.E. John filed for a trademark in January, while Flug filed in March.

"We own the name," says Thompson. "It's part of that building. It's part of the building and property.

Flug disagrees, saying she bought the name—"the whole kit and kaboodle"—when she took over the business 10 years ago. "l'm super confident," says Flug, "and we have every intent of moving forward with the Besaw's name. They've never been involved in owning and running the restaurant. We work in different currencies. We love what we do—the business, the people. We're super heartbroken."

C.E. John has been a family-run real estate business in the Portland area for years, and developed the properties for the Bamboo Sushi, Salt & Straw and Little Big Burger locations on Northwest 23rd Avenue. It also owns the building that includes Joe's Cellar, which was briefly closed two years ago during a building rehab.

"We feel strongly," says Thompson, "that in the existing [Besaw's] lease agreement, we have the name. We feel it’s right that Besaw’s stays on that property, and believe it needs to remain there, and the neighborhood will agree."

"We’ve got every intention of keeping the Besaw’s brand alive," says Flug of her plan to continue the restaurant in another location. "We’re gonna go on." 

WWeek 2015

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