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Source: KNBC TV Los Angeles


Celebrity Chef Suing Beverly Hills Steakhouse Owners Over Name

Puck: 'I Think He's Trying To Profit From My Name'

LOS ANGELES -- Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck filed a trademark infringement and unfair competition lawsuit Wednesday against the owner/operators of Wolfgang's Steakhouse by Wolfgang Zwiener.The lawsuit said that the name of steakhouse, which opened in Beverly Hills on May 1 and is owned by Wolfgang Zwiener, is confusing diners.Two of Puck's restaurants -- Spago, 176 N. Canon Drive, and CUT, 9500 Wilshire Blvd. -- are within a few blocks of Wolfgang's Steakhouse at 445 N. Canon Drive.
"People have come to me and asked why I was opening another steakhouse in Beverly Hills and whether I am going to close CUT," Puck said. "I tell them the new steakhouse has nothing to do with me and they stare in disbelief."The location for the competing eatery was chosen because Canon Drive is becoming the new "restaurant row" of Los Angeles, according to its namesake's 43-year-old son. Peter Zwiener is president of the Wolfgang's steakhouses, which he co-owns with his 68-year-old father."Our strategy is to grow naturally and be in cities where there's a need for great steak," he said.The building is owned by the city of Beverly Hills, according to the younger Zwiener, who said city officials wanted a high-quality steak restaurant for the location.A representative for the city did not immediately return calls for comment.The younger Zwiener said he was caught off-guard by the lawsuit, having enjoyed a friendly relationship with Puck and his staff in the past.Puck, meanwhile, said in a telephone interview that he "never wanted to sue ... but he completely ignored our agreement."According to Puck, he signed an agreement in 2007 agreeing to let the Zwieners call steakhouses on Park Avenue in New York and in the city's trendy Tribeca neighborhood "Wolfgang's Steakhouse."But the agreement, Puck said, stipulated that if the Zwieners expanded beyond the Big Apple, or if there was confusion over who owned the steakhouse, a new arrangement would have to be made."I thought the easiest thing was that he use his full name," Puck said.He said the "by Wolfgang Zwiener" tag on the steakhouse sign appears in a smaller font than "Wolfgang's Steakhouse.""We filed the lawsuit to protect our name and for him to change the way he calls his restaurant," Puck said. "I think he's trying to profit from my name."Joel Schmidt, Zwiener's lawyer, said "Mr. Zwiener has acted in total compliance with the 2007 agreement, and we are confident that the courts will agree."Peter Zwiener said the smaller font was not an attempt to ride on Puck's coattails."Wolfgang Zwiener is a well-known guy in New York, and people know him as Wolfgang," he said, adding that many people commute between Los Angeles and New York and were likely familiar with him.Puck -- known for catering the star-studded soirees that follow the Academy Awards ceremonies -- says otherwise. Many of his celebrity friends -- actor Andy Garcia and producer Frank Mancuso Jr. among them -- have quizzed him about what they apparently thought was his restaurant, he said."I have on a list hundreds of names of people who have asked me about it -- `Why didn't I get an invitation to the opening?"' the chef said.Puck said he decided to sue because he foresees more confusion to ensue this summer with an expected influx of overseas visitors, in part because of the weakness of the dollar.