Report: LT Burger Owner Wins Rights To BLT Name

Laurent Tourondel, who owns in Sag Harbor, has won a fight to keep his business name, but his battle with the partner he once shared a $70 million empire with is not quite over, according to Crain's Business.

Chef Tourondel and former business partner Jimmy Haber have been duking it out over their BLT Restaurant Group name for almost a year. BLT stands for Bistro Laurent Tourondel.

Haber has started a new company called ESquared Hospitality.

Haber has handed over the BLT trademark, but he is still trying to prevent Tourondel from using BLT menus, decor and recipes from the BLT restaurants that he still owns and operates.

Touronedel opened LT Burger on the South Fork and LT Signature in Panama City. He also has plans to open BLT American Brasserie at the Cassa Hotel and Residences in Times Square later this year.

But, Haber still contends that LT Burger is ripping off menu items and recipes from BLT restaurants. The case is before federal Judge George Daniels.

Among the arguments is that LT Burger's Twinkie shake is too similar to BLT Burger's Twinkie Boy, as they are made of vanilla ice cream, Twinkies and caramel syrup.

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