Big Apple (convenience stores in Maine and New Hampshire, 1974-present)

Big Apple convenience stores (some called Big Apple Food Stores) owned by the CN Brown Company are located in Maine and New Hampshire. The stores sell such products as gasoline, lottery, tobacco, coffee, beer, wine, soda and snacks. 
 
“The Big Apple” was trademarked by CN Brown with a first use in 1974; “The Big Apple Food Stores” was trademarked in 2008. “Big Apple convenience store on U.S. Route 201” was printed in the Bangor (ME) Daily News on November 8, 1982.
   
     
CN Brown Company—About Us
CN Brown Company is a family owned business that started in 1948 as a retail and wholesale lumber company in Lovell, ME.  The company expanded its business and territory to include petroleum products in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
 
In the early 70’s, management recognized the changing lumber industry and began concentrating its efforts in the convenience store, gasoline, and heating oil business.  At about this time, Carlton N. Brown hired Harold D. Jones, a district representative from Phillips Petroleum, to be CN Brown Company’s General Manager/CFO; to lead the company into these new markets.
 
This marked the beginning of a new era for CN Brown Company.  The company began a program of purchasing and building new convenience stores, along with its steady expansion of its heating oil business.
 
The company, now owned and operated by the Jones family, has provided communities with steady employment for over 70 years.  CN Brown Company currently owns and operates 75 Big Apple Convenience Stores, 25 Heating Oil Offices, 11 Service Stations, plus service over 100 gasoline dealers. 
 
CN Brown Company—Big Apple
Big Apple Stores offer many products for your convenience, such as gasoline, lottery, tobacco, coffee, beer, wine, soda, snacks and much more. You’ll find over 20 Agency Liquor stores and several fast food offerings at many of our stores.  Enjoy Chester Fried Chicken, Subway, Dunkin Donuts, and our own Big Apple Deli at three Maine locations.  We accept EBT, Fleet Cards, and all major credit cards.  Our Maine locations carry milk at the state minimum price.  For your convenience, most locations offer an ATM.  Visit our location list for offerings at a store near you!
 
With 76 locations across Maine & New Hampshire, you’re never far from a Big Apple Store.
 
Newspapers.com
8 November 1982, Bangor (ME) Daily News, “Two hurt in blast as car hits pumps,” pg. 26, col. 3:
... the Big Apple convenience store on U.S. Route 201.
 
Newspapers.com
12 March 1985, Bangor (ME) Daily News, “Police patrol,” pg. 14, col. 1:
Also on Thursday, someone took a complete roll of Maine State lottery tickets from the Big Apple Store.
 
Newspapers.com
1 December 1987, Bangor (ME) Daily News, “New store to open in Farmington” by John A. Messeder, pg. 8, col. 3:
FARMINGTON—C. N. Brown is opening another Big Apple store in Farmington. According to Michael Daucette, C.N> Brown sales manager for the Big Apple stores, the new facility on Routes 2 and 4 will bring to 30 the number of Big Apple stores in Maine.
       
Twitter
Credit Card Con
@CreditCardCon
In 1995 CN Brown, which owns Big Apple convenience stores in Maine, paid $353,000 in interchange fees. 2007 = $3,494,000 http://ow.ly/JBl2
2:34 PM · Dec 7, 2009·Twitter Web Client
 
Twitter
New York Now
@NewYorkCP
New York: CN Brown Selects KSS PriceNet for Big Apple Chain http://bit.ly/c89a47
1:08 PM · Apr 28, 2010·Twitter Web Client
 
Twitter
Big Apple Stores
@BigAppleStores
Stop by and visits the folks from CN Brown Company at the Big Apple Store table! http://fb.me/1RZNPxHa5
11:14 AM · Jun 21, 2017·Facebook
   
CSP Daily News
2018
BIG APPLE FOOD STORES
Legendary customer service is CN Brown’s Big Apple Stores’ competitive advantage.
 
A family business since 1948, the CN Brown Co. began as a retail and wholesale lumber company and expanded into gasoline, heating oil and convenience stores. South Paris, Maine-based CN Brown operates 76 Big Apple Food Store convenience outlets throughout New England.
 
Big Apple Stores offer a mix of foodservice options. Three sites feature the company’s proprietary Big Apple Deli program with breakfast, lunch and dinner items, while larger stores include quick-service restaurant brands such as Subway, Dunkin’ Donuts and Chester’s Fried Chicken. Coffee, tea and frozen options round out the dispensed-beverage offer.
 
Twitter
Chris Dagdigian
@chris_dag
Secondary COVID effect on small biz—customers flocking to larger corporate brands that are able to enforce mask policies. In western Maine I can’t go to Big Apple convenience stores or CN Brown owned gas stations because they explicitly post “no masks required” @ front door
11:41 AM · Nov 3, 2020·Twitter Web App
     
(Trademark)
Word Mark THE BIG APPLE
Goods and Services IC 035. US 100 101 102. G & S: Retail store services featuring convenience store items and gasoline. FIRST USE: 19740101. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19740101
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number 85044904
Filing Date May 21, 2010
Current Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition November 2, 2010
Registration Number 3907271
Registration Date January 18, 2011
Owner (REGISTRANT) C.N. Brown Company DBA A. W. Walker Lawn & Garden Center; Okay Gas; The Big Apple Food Store; The Big Apple; Red Shield CORPORATION MAINE P.O. Box 200 South Paris MAINE 04281
Attorney of Record Andrew Kraus
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Affidavit Text SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR). SECTION 8(10-YR) 20210408.
Renewal 1ST RENEWAL 20210408
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE
 
(Trademark)
Word Mark THE BIG APPLE FOOD STORES
Goods and Services IC 035. US 100 101 102. G & S: Retail store services featuring convenience store items and gasoline. FIRST USE: 20080718. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20080718
Mark Drawing Code (3) DESIGN PLUS WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS
Design Search Code 05.03.25 - Leaf, single ; Other leaves
05.09.05 - Apples
26.11.02 - Plain single line rectangles ; Rectangles (single line)
26.11.25 - Rectangles with one or more curved sides
Trademark Search Facility Classification Code SHAPES-CIRCLE Circle figures or designs including semi-circles and incomplete circles
SHAPES-GEOMETRIC Geometric figures and solids including squares, rectangles, quadrilaterals and polygons
SHAPES-MISC Miscellaneous shaped designs
VEG Plant life such as trees,flowers,fruits,grains,nuts,wreaths,and leaves
Serial Number 85046010
Filing Date May 24, 2010
Current Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition November 9, 2010
Registration Number 3910651
Registration Date January 25, 2011
Owner (REGISTRANT) C.N. Brown Company DBA A. W. Walker Lawn & Garden Center; Okay Gas; The Big Apple Food Stores; The Big Apple; Red Shield CORPORATION MAINE P.O. Box 200 1 CN Brown Way South Paris MAINE 04281
Attorney of Record Andrew Kraus
Disclaimer NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO USE “FOOD STORES” APART FROM THE MARK AS SHOWN
Description of Mark Color is not claimed as a feature of the mark. The mark consists of a rectangle with one or more curved sides as a single line border, with an apple in the center of the rectangle, and three lines of words, whereby the top line reads “The” at the far left corner of the rectangle, the middle line reads “BIG APPLE” centered across the rectangle and partially superimposed over the apple, and the bottom line reads “Food” to the left of the apple and “Stores” to the right of the apple.
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Affidavit Text SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR).
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE