Thursday, February 26, 2009

Trying to find the fake Mr. Softee

From the Daily News:

The city's most recognized soft ice cream man wants the feds to seize a knockoff Mister Softee truck that served swirly cones on Queens streets last summer.

Mister Softee's lawyers won a $20,000 judgment against Akop Papazian last month when he didn't answer claims he'd violated the New Jersey company's 52-year-old trademark by tooling around in a truck adorned with the signature smiling conehead in a bow tie.

But they haven't been able to collect, and no one seems to know where Papazian's blue-and-white 1986 Chevy van is hiding. Mister Softee is asking a judge to order federal marshals to seize the truck, sell it and give them the proceeds.

10 comments:

Unknown said...

This must really piss Steve off. I've be buying from his truck for years.

faster340 said...

Let the ice cream wars begin! LOL

Anonymous said...

I never buy anything off those trucks. I'm convinced their stuff is old and will make me sick.

georgetheatheist said...

I always tell these ice cream truck morons to can their jungles -Mr.Softee or others- when they are stationed on my block. A few days ago, when the weather was nice - mid-February- already there was one on my block blasting that stupid jingle, over and over and over again.

I HATE THESE SONS-OF-BITCHES!!!

Anonymous said...

I agree with georgetheathiest, Mr. Softee really needs to can that stupid and loud music.Years ago, some of the smaller Mom and pop Ice cream trucks, had a simple electric bell, which was non intrusive and still caught your attention. I can still remember farther back, when these small ice cream tricks had small bells that were operated by hand, almost like sleigh bells

Anonymous said...

You know the music doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I like it. It reminds me of summertime and of when I was a little girl chasing after that truck. Nice memories.

georgetheatheist said...

My first job at age 16 was as a Good Humor Man during the summer on the streets of Astoria. No truck but an ice box in the front and bicycle wheels in the back. There were bells on the handlebars that you jingled. YOU DID NOT PLAY AN IDIOTIC TUNE OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. Like Chinese water torture. BTW the new noise code says that these jingles can only be played while the truck is in motion. NOT STANDING in the street for 5, 10, 15 minutes or longer. I've already printed up fliers for these bastards on which the noise code regulation is worded. Join me. The camera is ready. Let me at 'em. No one disturbs my napping on the sofa and gets away with it.

Anonymous said...

"No one disturbs my napping on the sofa and gets away with it."

..Not even ballgames or sitcoms?

Anonymous said...

First Bernie Madoff, then the Mini Madoffs, and now counterfeit Mr. Softee. Is nothing sacred?

chpin said...

georgetheathesit, I would love to put flyers out in my neighborhood and give to the Softee truck. Do you have an electronic copy that you could post or send (or let me know where I can get the noise code information? Thanks!!