Friday, April 4, 2014

So what's the deal with 'Master Softee?'



Our friend Christine Champagne spotted this yesterday on East 14th Street and First Avenue. So when did Mister Softee become Master Softee?



Or is this just a rogue operation?

--

Rejected headlines: Master and Serve It

20 comments:

Marty Wombacher said...

Is this the latest Banksy installation?

EV Grieve said...

@ Marty

Hahaha!

Anonymous said...

Why doesn't Mister Softee sue these guys? Maybe they do. Remember the time that grocery store tried to use a name similar to Trader Joe's. I think they were calling their place Trader John's.

Anonymous said...

the "rejected headline" made me lulz:)

Ken from Ken's Kitchen said...

It must mean that our puny attempts to resist the ice cream from this particular truck will be futile.

Anonymous said...

I know a genuine Panaphonics when I see one.

Anonymous said...

I'd imagine it'd be difficult to eat ice cream while wearing a ball-gag...

Anonymous said...

Master Softee is underage.

Eden Bee said...

Bow down to the master and accept your fate, puny humans.

Anonymous said...

"Master Softee -- the only ice cream made with genuine sildenafil. Engorge your softy today, with Master Softee! Side effects may include..."

Anonymous said...

When you have a successful business, people try to rip you off. It's amazing. The folks from the Mud Truck had one of their drivers buy a truck and start the "Love Truck" which parked at Union Square. The rip-off dude painted it the same color as the Mud Truck. Bad karma, definitely.

Heather Highline said...

I've seen a few of these around. Surely young Master Softee shouldn't be out all day without his dad's supervision?!

anonymous said...

Does "ZOLTAR" know about this?????

Giovanni said...

Kids, make sure the name on the truck says "Mister Softee" or else your little ice cream cone may not be the only thing dripping in the hot summer heat.

These ice cream wars have been raging for years, but the imitators just keep coming, via The National Law Journal:

Soft Serve Melting over Legal Heat

Mister Softee, Inc., has filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York against alleged multiple soft-serve imposters for trademark infringement. Mister Softee claims a number of vendors are violating the Lanham Act and common law of unfair competition by using names such as "Master Softee," "Mister Soft," "Mister Cones" and "Mister Happy Times." Mister Softee, Inc. also alleges in the claim that these "vicarious vendors attempt to confuse the ice-cream public." They are seeking monetary damages and an injunction to block the other distributors from infringing Mr. Softee trademarks.

Anonymous said...

Mister Softee suing is stupid because there can only be one ice cream truck in an area as per mobile food vendor laws, so who cares if there's a Master Softee truck on Sixth Avenue and Fourth Street when your Mister Softee is at Sixth and 24th? Are people REALLY gonna hoof it twenty blocks to get your ice cream or theirs? 'Doubt it. They most certainly won't think "Oh, let's not have ice cream now I wanna shop in ______, let's get it in an hour or so." so they'll get it at some other truck. Most people just go to whatever truck is readily available.

D

Ken from Ken's Kitchen said...

Did Master Softee borrow the jingle too...Da de da da da da doo doo doo, da doo da doo da de da, etc. ?

Anonymous said...

i await mistress softie.

I-)

DrBOP said...

A lovely bunch of Spring Arrows!

Anonymous said...

How does that NIN song go?

"Bow down before the one you serve,
you're going to get soft-serve..."

Anonymous said...

These trucks belong to a former franchisee. He is now infringing on the Mister Softee trademarks. A lawsuit is in progress. We appreciate the support of our loyal customers.
Sincerely,
James Conway
Vice President
Mister Softee Inc.