
Bob Evans Trademarks
Please note: Gerben IP does not represent Bob Evans. This page is provided for informational purposes and reflects information available in public USPTO records.
September 7, 2023
Bob Evans is an American corporation that owns and operates more than 520 full-service family restaurants across 22 states. The company’s operations are primarily around the mid-Atlantic, east north-central, and southern regions of the U.S.
There are also several Bob Evans Restaurant and General Store Outlets that combine the restaurant and gift shops. The company also owned and operated the Owens Restaurants in Texas before they eventually all closed.
Golden State Capital currently owns and operates Bob Evans Restaurant. The company’s headquarters is based in New Albany, Ohio. Previously, it was part of Bob Evans Farms Inc., a corporation established to run the restaurant chain business under Bob Evans Restaurants and a fresh-food supply business under Bob Evans Farms.
Let’s dive into this company’s history and trademarks.
Bob Evans Company History
The history of Bob Evans Restaurants begins in 1946, when Bob Evans opened a small diner named Bob Evans Steak House in Gallipolis, Ohio, in 1946.
In 1948, Evans faced difficulty in sourcing high-quality sausages for his restaurant. This encouraged Evans to start processing and packaging his own sausage from hogs he raised on a farm.
Bob started receiving favorable reviews from his customers, mostly truck drivers, who would buy ten-pound tubs and take them home to their friends and families. The increasing demand and positive reviews for the sausages prompted Bob to suspend his restaurant business and focus on distributing his sausages.
Initially, Bob Evans personally delivered the sausages and only operated in the cold months of the year when storage was possible. Eventually, his distribution network expanded into grocery stores.
He even invited grocery store managers to visit his farm, nicknamed the Homestead, in Rio Grande, Ohio, Gallia County, to witness the process of making his sausages.
The Homestead, which was Bob Evans’ family farm and where he and his wife, Jewell, raised their six kids, is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The family operated the place as an inn and stagecoach stop.
The farm spans 1,100 acres, and visitors can ride horses, hike the farm’s rolling hills, and visit the authentic log cabin village or the farm’s museum.
During the tourist season, craft fairs and other special events are held on the farm for several weekends. The season often runs from the Memorial Day weekend to the Labor Day weekend.
Friends and family decided to become business partners in 1953 after realizing Bob Evans Farms sausages’ popularity. The business ramped up to larger scales after the founding Chairperson, Emerson E. Evans, spearheaded the purchase of a packing plant in Xenia, Ohio.
With the new plant, the company started distributing its sausages to southwestern Ohio.
The company was officially incorporated as Bob Evans Farms Sales Inc. in 1957. That year, 14 delivery trucks delivered fresh sausages overnight from Bob Evans Farms to the southern and central Ohio outlets.
The first Bob Evans Restaurant would open on Evans’ farm, the Homestead, in 1962. Initially it was called The Sausage Shop.
In 1963, the company changed its name to Bob Evans Farms Inc. and had a sales territory covering most of Ohio. That same year, Bob Evans Farms Inc. went public, selling 160,000 shares at $9 per share on NASDAQ.
In 1964, the company expanded beyond Ohio, moving first into Michigan. The company also opened its third sausage plant in Hillsdale, Michigan.
Bob Evans started making major acquisitions, one of the most significant ones being the 1987 acquisition of Texas-based Owens Country Sausage. Because of trademark issues, Bob Evans branded identical restaurants in Texas as Owens Restaurants.
All Owens restaurants were closed by 2006.
The Bob Evans family was in control of the business until Dan Evans retired as CEO in 2000.
Bob Evans Restaurant’s Separation from Bob Evans Farms
Bob Evans Farms sold its restaurant business to Golden State Capital, a private equity firm, for $565 million and a $50 million assumption of liabilities in 2017. Golden State Capital also acquired Bob Evans’ Homestead.
After the sale, Saed Mohseni, Bob Evans Farms’ CEO, moved to serve as the CEO of the Bob Evans Restaurant division at Golden State Capital. Mike Townsley, the then-President of Bob Evans Farms, became the CEO of the new Bob Evans Farms.
Bob Evans Farms remains a public company entirely focused on consumer grocery products. These include breakfast sausages and refrigerated side dishes that are sold in grocery stores.
Bob Evans Farms reportedly made between $475 million and $485 million from the sale of Bob Evans Restaurant.
Bob Evans Trademarks
Bob Evans has obtained or sought federal registration for about 30 trademarks. These include “DOWN ON THE FARM,” “DEEP-DISH DINNER,” “FARM-FRESH GOODNESS,” and “BOB EVANS OVEN BAKE.”
Bob Evans obtained federal trademark registration for “DOWN ON THE FARM” on October 29, 1985, and it uses this trademark for its restaurant services.
In December 2008, Bob Evans obtained federal trademark registration for “DEEP-DISH DINNER.” The company uses this trademark for its prepared meals consisting primarily of beef, steak, sirloin, roast, poultry, chicken, chicken and biscuits, sirloin stroganoff, chicken and noodles, country-fried steak, pot roast beef stew, and turkey and broccoli.
Please note: While we make every effort to ensure that the information provided is accurate and up-to-date, we cannot be held responsible for its accuracy or completeness. If you have any questions regarding a specific entity in Gerben's Trademark Library®, please contact us and we will work with you to provide the information you need.
- BOB EVANS AMERICA'S FARM FRESH
- BOB EVANS OVEN BAKE
- DOWN ON THE FARM
- BOB EVANS DOWN ON THE FARM
- AMERICA'S FARM FRESH
- BOB EVANS RESTAURANTS
- BOB EVANS FARMS HOMESTYLE TO GO
- HOMESTYLE TO GO
- BOB EVANS EXPRESS
- BOB EVANS EXPRESS
- BIG FARM
- FARM-FRESH GOODNESS
- FARM-FRESH GOODNESS
- BOB EVANS WILDFIRE
- BORDER SCRAMBLE
- BOB EVANS
- COLONIAL
- BOB EVANS
- BOB EVANS NATURALLY
- BOB EVANS
- DEEP-DISH DINNER
- BOB EVANS WILDFIRE
- BOB EVANS
- BOB EVANS RESTAURANT
- BORDER SCRAMBLE
- SUNSHINE SKILLET
- DOWN ON THE FARM
- BOB EVANS
- BOB EVANS FARMS
IC 043. US 100 101. G & S Restaurant services; Take-out restaurant services.
IC 029. US 046. G & S Prepared meals or side dishes consisting primarily of potatoes.
IC 030. US 046. G & S Prepared meals or side dishes consisting primarily of pasta.
IC 029. US 046. G & S Sausage; bratwurst; kielbasa; bacon; Canadian bacon; ham; prepared entrees consisting primarily of meat, poultry, or vegetables; prepared side dishes consisting primarily of eggs, potatoes, fruits, or vegetables; and prepared and packaged side dishes consisting primarily of meat, fish, poultry, vegetables, or fruit.
IC 029. US 046. G & S Sausage; bratwurst; kielbasa; bacon; Canadian bacon; ham; prepared entrees consisting primarily of meat, poultry, or vegetables; prepared side dishes consisting primarily of eggs, potatoes, fruits, or vegetables; and prepared and packaged side dishes consisting primarily of meat, fish, poultry, vegetables, or fruit.
IC 043. US 100 101. G & S Restaurant services; take-out restaurant services. FIRST USE: 20191009. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20191009.
IC 043. US 100 101. G & S Restaurant services. FIRST USE: 20170429. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20170429.
IC 043. US 100 101. G & S Restaurant services. FIRST USE: 20170228. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20170228.
IC 043. US 100 101. G & S Restaurant services. FIRST USE: 20170500. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20170500.
IC 043. US 100 101. G & S Restaurant services; Take-out restaurant services. FIRST USE: 20130800. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20130800.
IC 043. US 100 101. G & S Restaurant services; Take-out restaurant services. FIRST USE: 20130800. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20130800.
IC 030. US 046. G & S Hamburger sandwiches. FIRST USE: 20101100. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20101100.
IC 029. US 046. G & S Sausage; [ bratwurst; kielbasa; ] bacon; [ Canadian bacon; ] ham; [ pork ribs; ] chili; [ soups; ] prepared entrees and side dishes consisting primarily of meat, poultry, sausage, eggs, processed potatoes, processed sweet potatoes, fruit, or vegetables. FIRST USE: 20110500. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20110500.
IC 030. US 046. G & S Sandwiches; burritos; biscuits; [ biscuits filled with fruit, vegetables, eggs, meat, gravy, or cheese; ] prepared entrees and side dishes consisting primarily of pasta *or* bread [ , biscuits, oatmeal, gravy, or stuffing containing bread; kolaches, namely, dough-based pockets with filling consisting primarily of meat, poultry, vegetables or cheese; sausage wrapped in dough; breads and cakes; gravy; salad dressing; oatmeal ] [ ; biscuits and gravy ] [ ; barbecue sauce; coffee; pot pies ]. FIRST USE: 20110500. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20110500.
IC 043. US 100 101. G & S Restaurant services. FIRST USE: 20120420. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20120420.
IC 029. US 046. G & S Salads except macaroni, rice, and pasta salad. FIRST USE: 19950101. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19950101.
IC 030. US 046. G & S [ Quesadillas ]. FIRST USE: 20090101. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20090101.
IC 029. US 046. G & S prepared entrees consisting primarily of eggs, vegetables, meats and cheese. FIRST USE: 20031002. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20031002.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S Shirts, hats, earbands, sweaters, jackets, fleece pullovers, windshirts, aprons. FIRST USE: 19821215. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19821215.
IC 030. US 046. G & S Salad dressing. FIRST USE: 19751000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19751000.
IC 029. US 046. G & S Sausage; fresh roll sausage; fresh link sausage; fresh patty sausage; pre-cooked link sausage; smoked sausage links; smoked sausage ring rope; bratwurst; fully cooked sausage, including links and patties; fully cooked bratwurst; fully cooked bacon; pork sausage; smoked pork sausage; pre-cooked patty sausage; bacon; uncooked bacon; pre-cooked bacon; pre-packaged, refrigerated meat entrees; ham; pork ribs; chili; pre-packaged, refrigerated side dishes, namely, mashed potatoes, vegetables; and prepared and packaged side dishes consisting primarily of meat, fish, poultry, vegetables, or fruit. FIRST USE: 19641030. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19641030.
IC 030. US 046. G & S Breakfast sandwiches; sausage patty sandwiches; breakfast burritos; pre-baked, microwaveable biscuits; pre-packaged entrees consisting of gravy and biscuits; pre-packaged, refrigerated side dishes, namely, macaroni, pasta, and stuffing containing bread; kolaches, namely, dough-based pockets with filling consisting primarily of meats, poultry, vegetables and cheese; sausage wrapped in baked dough; [ breads and cakes; ] sausage gravy [ ; and salad dressing ]. FIRST USE: 19641030. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19641030.
IC 029. US 046. G & S Sausages. FIRST USE: 20090715. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20090715.
IC 030. US 046. G & S Coffee. FIRST USE: 19920100. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19920100.
IC 029. US 046. G & S Prepared meals consisting primarily of steak, beef, roast, sirloin, chicken, poultry, sirloin stroganoff, chicken and biscuits, country-fried steak, chicken and noodles, turkey and broccoli or pot roast beef stew. FIRST USE: 20071108. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20071108.
IC 030. US 046. G & S Barbeque sauce. FIRST USE: 20010300. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20010300.
IC 043. US 100 101. G & S Restaurant Services. FIRST USE: 19500710. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19500710.
IC 042. US 100 101. G & S Restaurant Services. FIRST USE: 20010100. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20010100.
IC 030. US 046. G & S flour tortillas filled with meat and vegetables for consumption on and off the premises. FIRST USE: 20031002. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20031002.
IC 029. US 046. G & S prepared entree consisting primarily of eggs, potatoes, meat, gravy and cheese. FIRST USE: 19970407. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19970407.
IC 042. US 100. G & S RESTAURANT SERVICES. FIRST USE: 19620000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19620000.
IC . US 100. G & S RESTAURANT SERVICES. FIRST USE: 19500710. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19500710.
IC . US 046. G & S PORK SAUSAGE [ AND SMOKED PORK SAUSAGE ]. FIRST USE: 19641030. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19641030.