Longtime Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce face a federal lawsuit alongside their business partners at Noble 33. The suit targets the name of their Kansas City steakhouse, 1587 Prime, and its related apparel line.
Details of the Trademark Lawsuit
Boston-based 1587 Sneakers filed the complaint in New York federal court. The company asserts it first used the number 1587 to market shoes in 2023, two years before 1587 Prime launched. Although 1587 Sneakers applied for a clothing trademark late last year—still under review—the steakhouse secured its bar and restaurant trademark in December 2023.
The lawsuit argues prior use trumps registration. It dismisses the ‘Prime’ addition as insignificant, stating: ‘Defendants’ added term “PRIME” does nothing to distinguish the Accused Marks from Plaintiff in any legally meaningful way.’
Origins Behind the Names
1587 Prime draws from Mahomes’ jersey number 15 and Kelce’s 87. Meanwhile, 1587 Sneakers, targeting Asian Americans, references the year Asians are believed to have reached North America.
Expert Views and Consumer Confusion Claims
Trademark attorney Josh Gerben of Gerben IP questions the case’s strength. ‘I think it’s a tough case for the sneaker company,’ Gerben said. ‘Trademarks can coexist in different industries… Given that the marks are essentially identical here, is a restaurant and a shoe company too close? Are consumers likely to be confused?’
The complaint counters that confusion already exists: ‘Scores of consumers have contacted Plaintiff with the mistaken belief that it is affiliated or endorsed the Defendants’ use of its senior mark.’ It alleges irreparable harm from the similar name, demanding a name change, halt to 1587 apparel sales, and unspecified damages.
Mixed Reviews Greet 1587 Prime Launch
The steakhouse opened in September to divided opinions. Food critic Liz Cook described it as overpriced in a Defector review, noting thin or overcooked steaks served without knives, lackluster local sourcing, and pricey items like a $78 steak, $15 ketchup ramekins, and a $22 ‘Alchemy’ cocktail tasting ‘like a Cosmo someone had strained through a French Vanilla Yankee Candle.’
Cook praised the venue’s aesthetics, marble staircase, and smartly dressed servers but criticized theatrical elements, including staff setting items ablaze. Taylor Swift’s influence boosts popularity, with fans sharing social media quests for tables hoping to spot Kelce’s fiancée.
Further Challenges for Noble 33 Partners
Noble 33 co-founders Tosh Berman and Michael Tanha face separate misconduct allegations from former chief legal officer Matthew Syken. In Nevada and California suits, Syken claims retaliatory firing on opening night after exposing a scheme to divert millions from a gift card program with inKind into personal accounts.
Syken, battling blood cancer at the time, alleges threats to his legal license, withheld pay, and canceled insurance. The partnership spans Tocaya Organica, Tender Greens, Casa Madera, and Toca Madera. Noble 33’s attorney previously called the claims ‘ridiculous’ and retaliatory. Neither Mahomes nor Kelce faces accusations in this matter.
Players’ Offseason Status
Mahomes and Kelce enter the offseason after the Chiefs missed the 2025 playoffs. The quarterback recovers from knee surgery, while free-agent Kelce eyes a Chiefs return amid salary cap pressures for 2026.
