Brent Finnegan -- June 8th, 2007
Calhoun’s has to change it’s name because a Tennessee company also has a restaurant called Calhoun’s.
Apparently Copper Cellar claims damage to it’s company name because Calhoun’s was winning gold medals for its beer, and they don’t want people to think that they have good beer.
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Yeah this is pretty dumb. But, as long as they keep making their wonderful grilled chicken salad I don’t care what their name is.
According to this timeline and the DNR article, both restaurants started in 1983.
Cally’s? This is a horrible name.
Just put a name in front of it, like John.
So it’ll be John Calhouns. Cally’s makes it sound cheap, and the good cheap, the bad cheap.
Yeah I’m not loving the new name.
I wonder what other restaurants in the area are in danger of infringing on the trademarks of other restaurants?
Blue Nile Ethiopian?
http://www.google.com/search?q=%22blue+nile%22+restaurant
Bluestone Inn?
http://www.google.com/search?q=bluestone+inn
Anthony’s? Luigi’s?
http://www.google.com/search?q=anthony%27s+pizza
http://www.google.com/search?q=luigi%27s+pizza
Anybody but me remember Kristofferson as Billy the Kid and Dylan as Alias?
Billy: What’s your name, boy?
Alias: Alias.
Billy: Alias what?
Alias: Alias anything you please.
Billy: Hell, let’s just call him Alias.
Alias: That’s what I’d do.
Hell, let’s just call it Calhoun’s.
Cal’s, CH Brewery, Burg Brew (hmmmmm, maybe not . . . ) Calbin’s, Calwin’s, Caldon’s . . . .
Let’s see how many more names sound better than Cally’s. I imagine we can come up with many, many more.
I understand the challenge, and I ADORE the restaurant, but let’s not make it sound like someone’s pet dog.
Yeah seems pretty silly. And I’m sure the people familiar with the place will continue to call it Calhoun’s.
But honestly, as a graphic designer, the logo always bugged me. The strange space under the “h” seems odd. But imagine all of the cost involved in re-branding an establishment’s identity. Maybe they will go to Cally’s and use the same treatment to sort of slip it in.
I was personally hoping they would opt for “Downtown 55″
Well, how many restaurants call deep fried, batter-dipped onions, “Bloomin Onions”?
I’m pretty sure that Dan’s Steak House does over in Luray and many others…
Outback has registered that as a trademark, see:
http://outback.com/ourmenu/menu.asp
Either way, how about adding to the end of the name…
“Calhoun’s Steak and Ale”, or something like that…that way, it’s not simply “Calhoun’s”
I don’t know, I just don’t like the idea of changing the name of a local institution like Calhoun’s has become.
cally’s sounds like an attempt to reach out to a younger crowd
That’s what I don’t get: their full name is “Calhoun’s Restaurant and Brewing Co”. calhouns.com takes you to Copper Cellar’s site.
Copper Cellar also accused them of cybersquatting. Cybersquatting generally means you’re not using it, and have no intention of using it yourself.
humph….well I personally think that though the spelling of my name is much better it is still a kind of Irish sounding name. I used to be roommates with one of the owners and he would refer to the restaurant as “callys” so I think that is where the idea originated. I take offense that my name sounds like a dog…
to finish my comment…my name is much more of cat’s name…
Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (PDF)
Brent, it appears that the law pertains specifically to registration, regardless of whether or not one is “using it”.
I would imagine the part of the law Copper Celler’s is citing is #3: “use that is intended or likely to confuse or deceive the consumer as to the affiliation, connection, or association of the domain name registrant, or the domain name site with the individual.”
Serve their beer in a tent and call it The Poopsmith…we will all still drink.
All short syllable slip of the tongue names are appropriate for dogs. Jenny, Rusty, Callie, butch, killa etc….. I don’t think anyone would say that it should be a name specifically for dogs (like Fido). I think that we are all just saddened by big corporate crap chains like Calhoun’s Tennessee (whose beer and food suck) that take advantage of their market share and financial backing to bully small homegrown entities like our Cally’s. It is the cannibalistic way of capitalism. I’ve had some fun with trademarks myself. The laws are pretty funny (if you can find the strength to laugh).
I forgot to mention that I found it funny that Calhoun’s was originally named after a person (non-trademarkable), what a great system that protects intellectual and intangible property in order to protect investments and to support growth!
The only way that this promotes growth is by adding to Cally’s signage expense budget and therefor to the gross of the sign companies.
With apologies to Eric and Mike, I don’t want to go to “Cally’s.” I know that is irrational, but I just don’t have a desire to go to “that place” (though I can usually be found in Calhoun’s 3-4 nights a week!). Is this just a sign of growing old . . .?
seems that calhoun’s missed a marketing opportunity to make the re-naming a community event – to stir our ire against the evil calhoun’s, to publicly display their gold medals, to hold a re-naming contest, and ultimately to get us in the door a few extra times. at lunch reaganite was talking about relinquishing his numbered mug in opposition to the new name; but he was sober at lunch.
I agree with justin, but I like the Barnabas’ idea of John Calhoun’s. But, I think that even needs more like John Calhoun’s Feel Good Ragtime Beeratorium and Old Fashioned Vittledashery. I don’t care what they call it, I just wish they’d bring back Yankee Nachos.
I agree with Cook, I think they missed a huge opportunity to get the community involved with the renaming.
Wow TM, just think of what that would look like on a T-shirt…
…I think people would come from all overs to go to place with a name like that. But all blues and jazz sessions would have to change to bluegrass.
Now my feelings are hurt. As the graphic designer who worked on that logo i have to agree that the shape under the h was odd, but as usual the client wouldn’t listen to reason.
Sorry Jason :)
Maybe Calhoon’s? And keep the thing under the H. I’d always assumed it was placed there to symbolize the existential emptiness that haunts us all during those deep, dark Februaries of the soul that drive us to seek out the bright lights and shining brass of a place like Calhoon’s.
Nope, its just there because the owner didn’t like shapes the outline made inside the letters, and didn’t want to take the time to make it right. Clients suck. And to contribute: Cally’s is way to feminine a name for the place. all that hard wood and flat black… the place is decorated in post modern lumberjack.
I also don’t like the name Cally’s, there are several better possibilities. Why isn’t “Calhoun’s Brewing Co.” considered the real name and therefore not in conflict with the TN restaurant?
However, I would be all for a name change anyway, since I associate the name Calhoun with the pro-slavery Calhoun: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Calhoun
Wow JGF, I will never see it the same way ever again. That sad, lonely, haunting interpretation makes me want to drink.
I agree with Cook that Calhoun’s missed the opportunity to involve the community. There are plenty of us who love the place and would have gladly supported them in changing the name, as is evidenced by the good suggestions already made on this blog. But when I read the DNR article, I had these two thoughts: 1 – What a crappy name, and 2 – Why wasn’t I asked?
I agree with everyone that the name Cally’s really doesn’t fit the atmosphere or the clientèle. If they really want to attract a younger crowd staying open later then 11pm on the weekend would help more then that awful name. Lets just hope they don’t start putting more kitsch and nick nacks on the walls to try and live up to a name like Cally’s.
As a long term Calhoun’s employee I’m glad that if anything has to change it is the name. I can’t say that I’m a huge fan of Cally’s either, but changing it won’t change the feel of the place at all. Everyone in the know will still call it Calhoun’s, the food/beer will still be just as awesome, we’ll still close early enough to get me to the dodger to have a beer with you all (that’s not why we close early, just a nice side effect), and the bartenders will still be amazingly handsome. Plus we might all get an opportunity to buy some cheap pint glasses as keepsakes. And don’t worry about kitsch and nick-nacks, it won’t happen.
Tim,
Keep me updated on the cheap pint glasses! I’m starting as a sales manager at Downtown Wines on Monday so we’ll probably run into each other before too long.
Jason,
Art vs. commerce is an ongoing conflict that leads, ultimately, to the same sort of existential despair mentioned above. That a sign on a saloon could be both a result of and an expression of something so fundamental is a staggering commentary on the hidden meanings of the most superficially simple objects. Anyone who truly grasps this will never look at the world the same again.
Yeah, what Troyer said. I want one or two o’ them glasses, too.
I pride myself in finding the best watering holes. With roots in east Tennessee, and UT we instantly thought our favorite new brewpub in Harrisonburg was connected to the old Copper Cellar and Calhoun’s of Knoxville. In fact, as noted, a google search brought up the Knoxville Copper Cellar site. But confusion is relative and uncertainty is the nature of a life lived fully, I prescribe a cold Kolsch, and a hearty “ein prosit !” Long live “Cally’s!
Well, between the Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid reference, existential despair, and the phrase ‘post modern lumberjack’, I’m glad for the namechange, simply because it prompted this discussion. Bob Dylan is one hell of a knife-thrower.
I’ve only heard the pint glass sale as a possibility, not a certainty, although I can’t image what else they could do with them. I’ll let you all know if I hear anything definite.
http://callysbrewery.com/ is a good time.
Oh, wow.
I don’t know whether to laugh or shake my head, so I’ll do both.
This could make for a catchy gimmick after all.
Harrisonburg Beer Lover
You aren’t really going to hijack that domain from them are you? I have no idea if that is one that they want but if it is may i suggest that you donate it when the time comes to get over the name change?
JohnCalhounsFeelGoodRagtimeBeeratoriumandOldFashionedVittledashery.com is still available.
zen…thank you for that video. It made my day, lol.
Yeah, I agree with David Miller. I do think it’s funny, though.
David Miller
Of course not. It was a light hearted jab at the new name.
The domain, however, is for sale to Calhoun’s. The holding page has been updated with purchasing information.
Not anymore, Barnabas. I also snapped up available domains including the words Beermonger and Brewsmithery.
Well damn. What will you do with your new found digital gold? I have an idea, sorta related, that has been brewing for a while, and that is starting a beer club. Queen City brewery in Staunton lets people make beer there, and by lets I mean takes money for rendered services. So I’ve been thinking of going down and making a batch. So if anyone is interested in doing this sort of thing let me know. We could make the official beer of Hburgnews, HnugBrews…
How about the “Friendly Tap”?