Affton Diner Now Open
The new eatery is in the former location of Bosna Grill on Gravois. It is less than a mile from another new restaurant with a very similar name.
Affton Diner is now open in the former location of Bosna Grill at 10020 Gravois Rd. near Tesson Ferry Road.
The new eatery serves breakfast and lunch daily from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Menu items include breakfast, burgers and sandwiches and a "daily special," which is not offered on the menu.
It is less than a mile from another new restaurant in town called Affton Breakfast and Dinner, which is causing a little confusion among customers because of the name similarity.
Owner Jonathan Aka, of Oakville, said he had no idea the other eatery opened with a name so similar to his business.
"I thought that when you applied for a business name, the state would not approve it if there was a company with a similar name," he said. "Otherwise, I would have named our restaurant something else."
Complicating the situation, he said, is another business set to open in the former Boodle's BBQ location - right next store - which is pegged to to be called Affton Breakfast and Burgers.
Aka said the menu item that differentiates his diner from others is its "home fries," a.k.a hashbrowns made from scratch as opposed to the frozen variety offered at other restaurants.
The new diner is offering a free coffee special through Feb. 10. For more information about the diner, call 314-631-1911 or visit its Facebook page.
This article has been updated to show the correct address for Affton Diner.
In This article
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Bosna Grill
10020 Gravois Rd, Saint Louis, MO -
Affton Breakfast and Dinner
9416 Gravois Rd, Affton, MO -
Boodle's BBQ
10024 Gravois Rd, Affton, MO
GHutch
9:46 pm on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
The "home fries" are fabulous. They are sliced from fresh potatoes, blanched then grilled. A very unique distinction to other restaurants in the area.
Robert Emmett McAuliffe
3:41 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
Fictitious name or business name registration does not secure any exclusive use rights for the registrant. There is no limit to the number of entities which may register the same fictitious name. Business names can be a letter off and still go through. For example, you could register In Missouri a company named Anheuser-Busche llc.
Trademark is a different animal. If I put Anheuser-Busche on a bottle of beer, I am in trouble. But if it is just a state business registration .... it's only a name on your check book.
I am an Affton resident and a trademark/copyright lawyer in Clayton.
PaulRevere
4:05 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
AFFTON DINER vs AFFTON BREAKFAST and DINNER!
Other than the word Affton---What's the similarity?
Both are eating establishments. There are hundreds of businesess in Affton that start with the "AFFTON" word.
10,000 Gravois is quite different than 9500 Gravois.?????
Ficticious names is quite different than "corporate" name. If "Affton Diner" is the Corporate name, ficticious name is not needed.
You cannot have two corporations sharing the same name.
Robert Emmett McAuliffe
6:01 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013
Part two: Once you understand the fact your business name registration did nothing for you, then you get to trademark. And then you have the fact that the goods are primarily geographically descriptive of them ("Affton") and therefore are not trademarkable.
Bottom line: neither restaurant can stop the other .. or Affton Café for that matter.
Second bottom line: it is going to be tough for any of these restaurants to build up much brand recognition. And it's going to be unwise to invest very much in them. Because any competitor will be able to open up right next-door with the same name.
Frank Ruzicka
1:03 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Great food, great service. I have been 3 times now and love it. Sit down, be waited on, $5.09 for 2 eggs, 2 sausage, hash browns & toast, what a deal! I am quickly becoming a regular.