White Hen Replacement in Ball Square

[josephineave.livejournal.com]

There's a sign on the window announcing that "Tufts Convenience" will be coming into that space soon. The store itself is not ready, evidenced by the huge puddle of water on the floor. Not sure how the university would react to the name, but I guess it's no worse than "Eat at Jumbo's".

Comments

[mzrowan.livejournal.com]

I'm very glad there's going to be a replacement!

I don't think there's much Tufts University can do about the name, much like Harvard University can't do much about Harvard Bookstore.

[ron_newman]

especially as there was a Tufts family in Somerville and Medford long before there was a Tufts University. Also glad to see a new convenience store in this location.

[josephineave.livejournal.com]

There is some precedence to this (see http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HJE/is_1_2/ai_79961249/ & http://tech.mit.edu/V129/N30/harvardtm.html). Harvard has been very aggressive in protecting their name (they sued a website called notharvard.com). The bookstore name predates the time when anyone cared about trademarks much, so I think that the time to stop them from using the Harvard name has long passed.

Colleges have become much more aggressive about protecting their names & mascots, especially because there is so much money to be made on them by licensing (I saw where some big athletic programs are suing over the use of their colors). Of course, Tufts isn't in the world of big money licensing, but they may want to limit any use of the name that they don't control and they do have a trademark licensing policy.

IANAL and certainly not a trademark lawyer, but the name "Tufts" seems to be a distant connection to the other Tufts (except maybe Nathan Tufts Park down the street) and meant to make a connection to the university. It may not bother Tufts at all or there may be legal principles that protect the store. I just don't think I would use the name if I didn't have a good reason to, because sometimes you just end up in a fight.

[insignia11.livejournal.com]

If they are just replacing it with another convenience store, why is White Hen leaving? Did they go out of business?

[rax.livejournal.com]

I believe they got bought by 7-11 who decided the location was redundant.

Here (http://community.livejournal.com/davis_square/2106531.html) is the old DSLJ post on the matter.

[ron_newman]

Also, White Hen already closed, about three weeks ago.

[lac.livejournal.com]

Pleased about another convenience as well. I do my laundry over there and I like running out to get a snack when I'm doing laundry.

For me, White Hen and 7-11 were equi-distant. I just hated that hill. Yes, I am lazy.

[aki.livejournal.com]

Ditto. The 80 drops off closer to 7-11 though.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

What a great relief. I called 7-11 to complain about the closing of the White Hen, but of course they are a faceless corporate behemoth. I hope the new place also has some personality.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I really hope this is the former White Hen employees, who were really hoping to start their own business in that space. If so, I'll be really happy for them. And happy to have a convenience store back!

[ron_newman]

Sometime between yesterday and this afternoon, they put newspapers over the windows -- maybe so that passersby won't see the flood anymore.

[josephineave.livejournal.com]

Had to be today. I walked by the store at about 6 am and there wasn't any paper up.

[rethcir.livejournal.com]

Tufts has had no problem with the OTHER "tufts" convenience store that's been on boston ave forever. http://www.yelp.com/biz/tufts-variety-store-medford

[ron_newman]

Strange Yelp comment "If you need to use western union go somewhere else" -- who still sends telegrams?

[josephineave.livejournal.com]

Most people use Western Union for sending cash.

[dougo.livejournal.com]

What's wrong with "Eat at Jumbo's"? It's fun to say "let's go eat at Eat at Jumbo's"!