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Hemingway's old haunts settle dispute
Associated Press
Published February 26, 2005
KEY WEST - A dispute over an old sign by the sea is over.
Two famous bars in Ernest Hemingway's former hometown came to a resolution in a federal case over who had the right to use the name of his old watering hole.
Sloppy Joe's Bar and Captain Tony's Saloon are half a block from each other. Both claim Hemingway as a former patron.
From 1933 to 1937, Hemingway friend "Sloppy Joe" Russell ran a bar out of a former city morgue. Russell moved half a block to the current Sloppy Joe's location in 1937 and Captain Tony's took over the morgue site.
Captain Tony's signs identify it as "The First and Original Sloppy Joe's, 1933-1937."
Last year Sloppy Joe's sued Captain Tony's, claiming trademark infringement. It said that by calling itself "the original Sloppy Joe's," Captain Tony's was creating confusion in the marketplace.
The parties completed an out-of-court settlement this week.
Captain Tony's will stop using the truncated phrase, "The Original Sloppy Joe's," but it can still use the "The Original Sloppy Joe's from 1933 to 1937."
Besides serving food and drinks, Sloppy Joe's has a wall covered with black-and-white photos of the late author. His fishing rod dangles from the ceiling. Captain Tony's doesn't sell food. There is a bust of Hemingway, and a single photo of the author of The Old Man and the Sea fishing with Tony Tarracino, a onetime mayor and former owner.
[Last modified February 26, 2005, 01:14:15]
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