The owners of a local mom and pop restaurant in Osceola County is facing a lawsuit because of their restaurant’s name.

The Wawa Curry Taste of India now faces a lawsuit from Wawa Inc., the convenience store and gas station.

“Wawa is a common word in India…Wawa means something good,” said restaurant owner Yogi Patel.

That’s why Patel uses wawa in his restaurant's name.

Patel's restaurant is on Parkway Boulevard, off U.S. 192. The closest Wawa gas station is on West Osceola Parkway and State Road 535 -- over four miles away.

A spokesperson for Wawa Inc. said they are suing because they don’t want their customers confused. They issued this statement:

“At Wawa we support the success of all businesses including Rakeshkumar Patel’s Indian restaurant.

"That said, we have an obligation to protect consumers from any likelihood of confusion that may occur in the marketplace and to protect the brand name, goodwill and reputation that we’ve worked so hard to build over the past 50 years.  In this case, we reached out to Mr. Patel on multiple occasions to resolve this matter privately and amicably.  Regrettably, he did not respond, so we were left with no other choice but to take this course of action.

"We wish Mr. Patel nothing but success, just without our name included.”

Patel said his family doesn’t have the money to go against a corporation like Wawa. “I don’t understand how they would be confused. It says Wawa Curry,” Patel said.

Patel said he feels like he has to make the change. Despite having the name since they opened, about a year ago, he is hopeful customers won’t forget the good food they can get at the old Wawa place.

Patel’s said he will be making changes to his menus as well as all of his signs, and website as soon as possible. He also explained all that could cost him $500 to $1,000.