About 2 Trademarks found that are owned by Youth Educational Services Inc.

"THRIFT" AND "THRIFT CENTER"

Applicant respectfully requests that the present application be amended to seek a concurrent use registration pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1052(d), 37 C.F.R. §§ 2.42 and 2.73 and TMEP § 1207.04(c) in view of the cited registration. Applicant has been using the mark FAMILY THRIFT CENTER in connection with retail stores featuring new and used clothing and new and used general consumer merchandise in International Class 35 since at least as early as May 17, 1978. Applicant seeks registration of its mark in connection with all of the services identified in its Application. It seeks to use the mark in connection with these services throughout the entire United States, except for the geographic regions of Western South Dakota and Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Applicant's mode of use is in all advertising, marketing and promotion, including signage, in connection with its services identified in the Application. 37 C.F.R. § 2.42. To the extent of Applicant's knowledge, there is one exception to its claim of exclusive use (based on the Trademark Office's position that such use is confusingly similar to the mark of the present application). The excepted use is: FAMILY THRIFT CENTER & Design The relevant service are retail grocery and general merchandise store services. The geographic area of use of this mark is Western South Dakota and Scottsbluff, Nebraska. The Registrant claims a period of use of this mark beginning at least as early as October 31, 1998. 15 U.S.C. § 1051(a)(3)(D); 37 C.F.R. § 2.42. The excepted user is Nash-Finch Company, a Delaware corporation ("Registrant"). Its address is 7600 France Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota. The excepted user has been issued U.S. Trademark Registration No. 2,505,778 for the above-referenced mark, which is the cited registration upon which the Trademark Office is denying registration of Applicant's mark based on an alleged likelihood of confusion. To the best of Applicant's knowledge, the mode of use of the excepted user's mark is in connection with advertising and promotion, including signage, of a grocery store. 37 C.F.R. § 2.42. Applicant has established rights in the mark FAMILY THRIFT CENTER dating back to 1978, which far predates the Registrant's claimed October 31, 1998 date of first use and the February 19, 1999 filing date of the application that resulted in the cited registration. As a result, Applicant has superior rights in the FAMILY THRIFT CENTER mark, at least with respect to that portion of the country where Registrant is not using its mark. Further, Applicant's superior rights in the FAMILY THRIFT CENTER mark extend to Applicant's right to use and register the mark FAMILY THRIFT CENTER, which the Trademark Office considers to be confusingly similar to Registrant's mark. Pending the amendment of the present Application, Applicant will amend its verification to indicate that no one except as identified in its application has a right to use the mark. TMEP § 804.02. Accordingly, Applicant respectfully requests that its Application be amended to reflect its request for a concurrent-use registration.