Whisky River Fights to Keep Trademark

By Paul Pinkham
The Florida Times-Union

The differences between a creek and a river - or between the initials BDP and BPD - are subtle.

Just how subtle could go a long way to determining whether two Jacksonville businesses get to keep their names or logos - including NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Whisky River at St. Johns Town Center.

Two trademark infringement complaints filed recently in Jacksonville have asked judges to determine whether Whisky River and BPD International freight company in Mandarin can continue to use those names. The complaints say the names, and Whisky River's logo are too similar to trademarks owned by Whiskey Creek restaurant chain and BDP International freight and logistics company in Philadelphia.

Read the rest of the story here.

Whisky River Take My Mind

The feud between Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon might be headline news in Charlotte this week. But down here in the wilds of North Florida, everyone is talking about Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Last night, Earnhardt hosted a "private" grand opening party at his new Whisky River location in Jacksonville, Fla.

I use the term "private" loosely, as folks were packed in hip-to-hip and the line of private pass holders wrapped around the building at one point.

However, as advertised, Dale Jr. showed up just before 9 p.m. His entrance was very low key - he walked into the VIP area without any fanfare or a large entourage. In fact, his entree into the club was so inconspicuous, that many of the partiers on hand didn't even know he had entered the building - which is his usual M.O. if you've ever seen him at the track.

Still, word did spread and pretty soon the VIP section had transformed into a fishbowl with Junior the main guppy. Even after the driver took the stage to welcome the crowd and introduce country music up-and-comer Luke Bryan, lots of fans remained focused on who was clearly the real star of the night.

But even though he was playing second fiddle, Bryan rocked the stage in grand style. Having just been named Top New Artist by the Academy of Country Music, Bryan knew how to keep the buzz going. In addition to his hits "Rain Is a Good Thing" and "Do I," Bryan treated the crowd to a sing-a-long version of the old Nitty Gritty Dirt Band classic "Fishin' in the Dark."

Earlier in the night, one of the bartending "Whisky Chicks" told me that Junior was expected to make only a very brief appearance and not stay for the show. Interestingly, this ended up being false. The driver stayed long after I left - and per the folks at Whisky River - even participated in a late-night pizza cookoff with the boys in the kitchen.

And the Junior buzz didn't quite die down today either. The driver was barely out of town before news broke courtesy of FOX and ESPN that Junior will be driving the #3 in this summer's Nationwide Daytona race. Reports say it won't be the black #3, but the Wrangler paint scheme. We shall see.

We shall also see about Talladega this weekend. With all this drowning in Junior-ness, I can't help but predict that he'll win at Dega this Sunday. After all, the spoiler is back, he and the #88 team seem to have their act together, and Junior Nation is hungry for a win.

Who knows? Maybe this week's foray into the Florida sand will bring him some good luck on Sunday.

Photo info: Top - Invitation to Whisky River Private Grand Opening Party. Middle - Dale Earnhardt Jr. welcomes the crowd and introduces singer Luke Bryan. Bottom - Junior and the guys in the Whisky River kitchen compete in a pizza cookoff (photo courtesy of Whisky River Jax).

Dale Jr. Picks Up the Tab

Dale Earnhardt Jr. made hundreds of folks happy last night at his bar Whisky River.

According to TMZ sources, Junior picked up the tab for more than 800 people who were hanging out at his Charlotte night club from 8 to 9 p.m.

Let's hope this bit of generosity appeases the gods of racing. If Junior ever needed some motorsports karma it's now. Perhaps this exercise in paying it forward will pay off for him on the track come Daytona.

Call me selfish, but I'm hoping Junior makes picking up the tab a habit at all Whisky River locations. Might be a good grand opening promotion to run when his Jacksonville, Fla. night club opens in 2010.

Whisky River to Run Through Jacksonville

Hang on to your mechanical bull.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and company plan to open a new location of Whisky River night club this spring in Jacksonville, Fla. The club will be located in The Markets at St. Johns Town Center on the city's Southside. Sources say that March 2010 is the target grand opening date.

Not that Junior asked my opinion, but it would sure make more sense to me to open the club during Daytona Speedweeks. Jacksonville isn't too far from the track and just think about all the hype you could drum up for the big opening night. Plus, an appearance by Dale Jr. himself sure wouldn't be bad for business.

Photo: Whisky River, coming soon to Jacksonville, Florida