Skip to content
Link copied to clipboard

Name change at Stella Rossa

The importer of Stella Rosa wine objected, so they're now called Barra Rossa.

Those pesky trademarks.

Restaurateur Dave Magrogan again is facing objections over the name of one of his restaurants.

The Texas-based wine importer behind the Stella Rosa brand raised a fuss over Magrogan's use of Stella Rossa for his Italian restaurants.

These restaurants opened last year at 10th and Walnut Streets in Center City and at 20 E. Lancaster Ave. in Downingtown.

The restaurants are now called Barra Rossa.

Wishing to make limoncello out of lemons - as it were - on Nov. 17, Magrogan will offer half-price spaghetti and meatballs (regularly $12) and half off the Special Red Pizza ($19), which are topped with sausage, pepperoni, meatballs, chopped tomato, mozzarella and tomato sauce.

Magrogan also is expanding the menu and beverage list.

Earlier this summer, Magrogran was centered in the legal crosshairs of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts over the name and logo of Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar, just before he opened a branch at the Shoppes at Susquehanna in Harrisburg.

Though Magrogan had the name trademarked and it had been in use at the time at three other locations, Hershey lawyers said it was too close to the chocolate giant's restaurant Harvest at the Hotel Hershey. The stalks of grain on the logo reinforced the argument.

Magrogan - who also owns Kildare's Irish Pub and Doc Magrogan's Oyster House - posted a complaint about the legal skirmish on Hershey's Facebook page. A Hershey executive called him directly and started a conversation. The dispute was settled when Magrogan added the word "Susquehanna" over the logo and agreed to disclose in marketing that the restaurants are unrelated.

Magrogan plans to open his 16th and 17th restaurants - Red Star Craft House at Exton Square Mall and another Harvest, in Moorestown Mall - later this year.

"Red Star" is the translation of "Stella Rossa," so ...

Update: Stella Rosa wines are available in Pennsylvania.