this is one of my favorite molly tea locations in not only nyc but north america because of the good service and how efficient the employees are despite the huge number of customers everyday. naturally i am devastated to find it temporarily closed while the franchise fights a trademark legal battle with corporate.
translated from a xhs post i read on the backstory:
"To the respected judge,
I followed the court's order and covered the signboard of the store with a wooden board. Facing the blank door, I don't know what to put on. My brand told me that I can't use the name "Jasmine Milk White" anymore. And I haven't had time to think of a new name for myself.
So, I put a question mark on it.
This question mark is not a trademark or a brand. It is my only true expression at the moment:
I don't understand. Why did the brand suddenly ask me to reduce 80% of the equity to 30% and transfer all the lease, control rights and employee management rights to them after we invested all our savings, signed a personal guarantee lease, and opened the store to the ceiling of New York? I refused. Then they cut off my goods, closed my store, closed my social media, and removed my takeaway platform.
I don't understand. Why did I get a TRO in the state court? The court ordered them not to cut off the supply and close the store, but they could still go to the federal court to get another TRO and order me to remove all trademarks from the shelves within 48 hours? Two courts, two orders, and I was caught in the middle.
I'm angry. But I can't roar in court. I can only hang this question mark on the door so that all passers-by can see:
This store is going through something.
I'm confused. I don't know what my store should be called tomorrow. I don't know how long the lawsuit will last. I don't know how long I can protect the most important things in my life when I sign a lease with a personal guarantee, more than 100 employees I employ, and my wife who is about to give birth.
But I know one thing: I must continue to do business.
My more than 100 employees are not the numbers in the eyes of the "other party's lawyers". They are ordinary people waiting for their wages to support their families. I continue to do business for them.
My wife, she is a co-defendant in this case, and she is about to give birth to our child. She is under too much pressure. I must hold on, which is the best protection I can give her.
The personal guarantee lease I signed is not a piece of paper. This is all my family. I can't close the store, I can't stop.
If it stops, there will be nothing left.
Judge, I'm not here to challenge your authority. I respect the court's order. I have covered the door with a wooden board, and I am already cooperating. I just kindly ask you to understand my situation and give me some time.
Give me 30 days. I promise to complete the brand switch. I promise to turn this question mark into a real name. I promise that I will continue to obey all the orders of the court." read more