DALLAS — Spend a few minutes with G.G. Fletcher, and you learn quickly that history means a lot.
From her home in Denton County, Fletcher has framed photos from almost every decade of Fletcher’s existence.
“That location is where I used to go when I was a kid when we would come to the fair from East Texas,” she says pointing at a photo from the 1960s.
G.G. is now the matriarch of Fletcher’s Original State Fair Corny Dogs, which will start its 77th year at the State Fair of Texas this week. But this year is already unlike any other.
“We have a responsibility – an obligation – to protect our brand,” Fletcher said.
She says that because there is another fried food venture out there in DFW.
It's a venture Jace Fletcher Christensen says she has been dreaming about since before she was in college at SMU.
“Fletch, purveyors of fine stick food,” she says beaming. “It’s my nickname.”
Fletcher's granddaughter started “Eat Fletch” with her mom Vickie Fletcher, first as a pop-up concept around DFW in February.
The fried food concept featuring funnel cakes and, as Christensen says, "artisanal corn battered franks," already has landed gigs in high profile spots like AT&T Stadium, Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, Toyota Stadium in Frisco and the Texas Motor Speedway.
“I friend my own corn dogs from scratch until I figured out how to do a gluten-free recipe,” Christensen said.
Christensen shares her enthusiasm in what is soon to be the first brick and mortar restaurant in Northwest Dallas, specializing in all things fried.
“We are elevated fried food,” Christensen said.
But Fletcher’s — the State Fair one — says the new company is only elevating confusion.
In a recently filed lawsuit, Fletcher's accuses Eat Fletch of willful trademark infringement.
The 31-page filing points out multiple social media posts attorneys argue show North Texas customers are confusing the two companies that share one, fractured family tree.
“I have not experienced any customer confusion,” Christensen told us this week. “I was in complete shock and I’m still in complete shock over [the lawsuit].”
G.G. Fletcher maintains she never wanted to sue her granddaughter, she just wants her business to use a different name.
“It’s unfortunate what has happened – it is family. It makes us sad and angry. We go through all of the emotions,” Fletcher said.
So now the family so connected through corny dogs will enter a courtroom next week to decide the future use of the Fletcher name.
A hearing on a motion for a preliminary injunction is set for October 1 in Plano.
Christensen says she hopes the matter can still be resolved within the family and that the food her mom is creating is more important than the name of the business, but acknowledged she’s already invested a lot to get this far.
“Had I known that [concern] six and nine months ago before I spent a fortune on this process, I totally would’ve considered [changing the name],” she said.
More on WFAA:
- State Fair of Texas Photographer Kevin Brown
- Big Tex gets to show off his new pair of boots this year at State Fair of Texas
- 'Giant of a man': 'Smokey' John Reaves, founder of Smokey John's Bar-B-Que, dies
- Sweet or savory? State Fair of Texas announces Big Tex Choice Awards food semi-finalists for 2019
- Bill Bragg, former voice of 'Big Tex,' dies at 72