Houston eater reports…..Viacom, the parent company of Nickelodeon, claims that the pop-up is in violation of multiple trademarks. It also faces a slew of negative reviews alleging high prices and “unsanitary” conditions
A Downtown Houston pop-up bar is being sued by Viacom, the parent company of Nickelodeon, over allegations of trademark infringement regarding the bar’s kitschy Spongebob Squarepants theme.
The Rusty Krab, which opened at 711 North Main earlier this year, bills itself as a Spongebob Squarepants-inspired experience for the ultimate Bikini Bottom fan, complete with multi-room photo ops, daily activities like scavenger hunts, and tropical food and cocktails with names like chum nuggets (buffalo chicken bites) and Pinky the Star’s Hideaway, a drink make with peach Ciroc, Malibu and Sprite.
These pop-ups try to circumvent copyright laws with sideways references to the original inspiration — Rusty Krab is of course a reference to Krusty Krab, the fictional fast food restaurant on the show. Instead of Squidward, the Rusty Krab’s dour cashier is named Octoword. Patrick Star is referred to as Pinky, and Spongebob himself is known instead as “The Big Sponge.”
