Matador sued over restaurant concept

Four and a half years ago, a former bartender from the Queen Anne restaurant Peso’s opened Matador along Market St. in Ballard.

As Matador expanded, the owner of Peso’s, Brian Hutmacher became increasingly upset. He ultimately sued Matador, accusing them of copying the Peso’s concept and stealing his customers, according to Seattle Weekly:

Next Monday, Hutmacher’s lawsuit against Matador—its investors, designers, and decorators—is scheduled to go to trial. Hutmacher claims Matador, which has since expanded to five locations, so closely imitates Peso’s in appearance and food that customers confuse the two; people who live near a Matador may not see any reason to go to Peso’s, he says in his complaint.

But Matador says that Hutmacher “was watching from the sidelines” as they opened new restaurants, ultimately suing in January of 2007 — not over the food and decorations, but because Matador became so successful.