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File a Trademark for $399 + $250 Government Filing Fee

Trademark Attorney Working With Clients in Mesa, AZ

If you're an entrepreneur, you know that protecting your intellectual property should be high on your list when it comes to safeguarding your company. However, as a successful business owner, you also know the steps and costs of filing a trademark in the U.S. can be expensive and arduous.

This conundrum can be even more overwhelming for new business owners who want to do everything possible to minimize the price of securing trademarks. They try to handle complicated tasks like trademark registration on their own, which can be a big mistake - especially when juggling the day-to-day tasks of running a business. You may be thinking, "But what about those set-it-and-forget-it services you can find online? All you have to do is plug in your info, and you're done." Using pre-made templates for trademark filing can be tempting, but doing so can leave you with inadequate protection and hurt you in the long run.

So, what is the easiest, most cost-effective route to consider that also minimizes legal risk? The truth is, before you spend money on an online filing service, it's best to consult with a trademark attorney working with clients in Mesa, AZ.

At Sausser Summers, PC, our experienced trademark attorneys can help you understand the trademark process step by step. We can even help with U.S. trademark filing, U.S. trademark responses, and U.S. trademark renewals at a price you can actually afford. That way, you can make an informed decision regarding your business without having to break the bank.

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Sausser Summers, PC: Simplifying the U.S. Trademark Process

Hiring an attorney can be a daunting task, but at Sausser Summers, PC, our goal is to make the process as simple and seamless as possible for you. That's why we offer a straightforward checkout service. First, you choose your flat fee trademark service and fill out a short questionnaire. Then, we will contact you within 24 hours to discuss the details of our service. From there, one of our experienced trademark attorneys will get to work on your behalf.

Using a trademark attorney for filing in Mesa, AZ, can significantly increase your chances of a successful registration. The U.S. government recommends hiring a trademark attorney to help with your application, and our team of trademark lawyers is dedicated to meeting your needs. In fact, we help ensure your application is filed correctly the first time so you can get on with your life and avoid legal risks.

At Sausser Summers, PC, we work closely with our clients to understand their needs and provide them with sound professional advice. We never offer incomplete services, such as simply filing for registration, because that would leave you open to legal risks. You can rely on us to handle your intellectual property matters, and our flat fee services can help protect your business in a simple, straightforward, and affordable way. It's really that simple.

In terms of filing a U.S. trademark, we provide an easy three-step process to protect your intellectual property:

1. You provide your trademark info to our team via an online form.

2. Our team performs a comprehensive trademark search. This search ensures that no other marks will prevent you from registering your trademark in the U.S. Once performed, we'll send you a legal opinion letter that details our findings.

3. Sausser Summers, PC, files your U.S. trademark application. We are then listed as your Attorney of Record on file. From there, we'll provide ongoing updates regarding the status of your trademark as it works through the registration process.

The bottom line? At Sausser Summers, PC, we give both new and seasoned business owners an easy, efficient, cost-effective way to protect the one asset that sets them apart from others: their name.

Online Trademark Attorney Mesa, AZ
The bottom line?

At Sausser Summers, PC, we give both new and seasoned business owners an easy, efficient, cost-effective way to protect the one asset that sets them apart from others: their name.

Do I Really Need a Trademark Attorney for Protecting My Business in Mesa, AZ?

It's not necessary to be a lawyer in order to apply for a trademark. Anyone can submit a trademark application to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). However, registering a trademark involves more than just filling out a form. It's essential to conduct thorough research, accurately identify and clearly explain your trademark to ensure it receives adequate protection. And even after securing a trademark, you've got to monitor it consistently to make sure it's free from infringement.

The big takeaway here is that it's always a good idea to work with a trademark attorney to protect the intellectual property that you've worked so hard to establish. According to the Wall Street Journal, applicants are approximately 50% more likely to secure their trademark than people who file applications on their own. If your trademark application is rejected by the USPTO, you will need to revise and refile it, incurring additional filing fees. To avoid delays and extra costs, it is best to have a trademark lawyer help you get it right the first time.

Additional Benefits of Using a Trademark Attorney

Great trademark attorneys (like those you'll find at Sausser Summers, PC) will help with every step of filing and enforcing your trademark. Some additional benefits include the following:

Check to see if your proposed trademark is registered by another entity.

Conduct research to see if another business is using the trademark for which you're applying.

Provide advice and guidance on the strength of your trademark.

Draft and submit your trademark applications and application revisions.

Advice and guidance regarding trademark maintenance and protection.

Monitor the market for unauthorized use of your trademark.

Trademark enforcement to protect you against infringement.

 Online Trademark Lawyer Mesa, AZ

Curious whether our trademark attorney services are right for you and your business? Contact Sausser Summer, PC, today. Let's talk about what you need, and how we can help.

What About Online Filing Services?

Online services, can provide you with basic assistance in filing your trademark. However, they will never be a legitimate substitute for an experienced trademark attorney helping clients in Mesa, AZ.

 Trademark Attorney Mesa, AZ

Although online filing services offer a step-by-step process, they take a one-size-fits-all approach to preparing legal documents. Even their advanced service only provides basic attorney assistance in completing your paperwork and helping with minor roadblocks. Online filing services' disclaimer highlights the many limitations of its services, including the fact that communications are not protected by attorney-client privilege. In addition, online filing services cannot provide advice, explanations, opinions, recommendations, or any kind of legal guidance on possible legal rights, remedies, defenses, options, selection of forms or strategies.

In other words, online filing services can offer you the necessary forms and point you in the right direction, but they cannot customize their services to your specific needs or help you with serious complications that may arise.

For the most comprehensive trademark service and protection, it's always wise to work with highly rated trademark lawyers, like you'll find at Sausser Summers, PC.

Understanding Trademarks Over Time

Trademarks in the U.S. can last indefinitely, but did you know that clients in Mesa, AZ can file a trademark online, only to lose protection in some circumstances? Trademarks differ from patents and copyrights in that they do not have an expiration date. However, to prevent the cancellation of a trademark, you must maintain it. To ensure that your trademark remains protected, you must actively use it in commerce and renew it with the USPTO every ten years.

The Lanham Act tells us that "use in commerce" is the legitimate use of a trademark in the ordinary course of trade. In other words, you cannot register a trademark solely to reserve the rights to it in the future. In most cases, a trademark must be used continuously in connection with the goods or services it is registered for.

 Trademark Law Firm Mesa, AZ

Steps to Renew Your Trademark

Trademarks are registered with the USPTO and generally need to be renewed every ten years. However, there is one crucial exception that you should be aware of. Within the first ten years of owning a trademark, you must file for renewal between the fifth and sixth year from the date of your initial registration.

During this renewal period, you are required to submit a Section 8 declaration, a specimen that shows how the mark is being used, and pay the required fee. You can also apply for Section 15 Incontestability status, which can strengthen your trademark rights. This application, although not mandatory, can make it harder for others to challenge your ownership of the mark.

After the first renewal, which falls between the fifth and sixth year of ownership, the next renewal filing is due between the ninth and tenth year, and then every tenth year thereafter. In the ninth year you will need to file a Section 8 declaration, attesting to your use of the mark or excusable nonuse. You've also got to file a Section 9 renewal application before the end of the tenth year to keep your registration active.

It is worth noting that the USPTO provides a six-month grace period if you fail to renew your mark within the required time frame, but it is best not to rely on it. If you don't file within the grace period time limits, the USPTO will cancel and expire your mark.

By hiring trademark attorneys helping clients in Mesa, AZ, you can avoid the pitfalls and mistakes that can arise and cause you to lose your rights to the mark that represents it.

Losing Your Trademark Rights Through Abandonment

In the event that you stop using your trademark and have no plans to resume using it in commerce, it may be considered abandoned by the USPTO. This could result in the loss of your protective rights to the mark. Typically, a trademark is assumed to be abandoned if it has not been used for three years. However, you may be able to refute this presumption by providing evidence that you intend to use the mark again in the future.

Losing Your Trademark Rights Through Inappropriate Licensing

In addition to trademark abandonment, you should also be wary of improper licensing. It's important to remember that once you allow someone else to use your trademark, you must keep an eye on how they use it. You should monitor the products or services that feature your trademark to ensure that they meet consumers' expectations in terms of quality. Failure to do so can lead to a "naked" trademark license and the loss of your protective trademark rights.

How to Avoid Having to Refile Your Trademark

If you're wondering how you can avoid refiling your trademark, the answer is simple: file it correctly the first time around. Filing a trademark isn't inherently difficult, but when doing so, it's very important that certain aspects are filled out accurately in your application. If any information is missing or incorrect, the trademark application may be considered "void ab initio" or void from the beginning, requiring you to file again.

To avoid this, make sure that the information you provide in the application is accurate and complete, including the ownership of the trademark. For instance, if a corporation has multiple shareholders, it should not file under the President's personal name. The rightful owner should be the one/entity that ultimately controls the trademark and the associated goods/services.

It is also important to ensure that the goods and/or services description is precise. For example, if you sell electronic products, you should not file for research and development services despite having a research and development department. The goods/services description should reflect the goods/services you offer to customers, not the departments within your business.

Additionally, providing accurate dates of first use when filing for a trademark is crucial. The USPTO requires two dates to be specified - the date of first use anywhere and the date of first use in interstate commerce. Contact our trademark law office today to learn more about having accurate dates on your filing paperwork.

 Trademark Lawyer Mesa, AZ
 Trademark Firm Mesa, AZ

What Makes an Online Trademark Attorney Great?

At Sausser Summers, PC, we often get questions about how to distinguish run-of-the-mill consultants and others from great trademark attorneys. After all - when you're looking for an attorney to file or prosecute your business trademark, you should know their qualifications. Here are three ways you can separate the proverbial wheat from the chaff when it comes to trademark attorneys.

It's crucial to seek legal advice from a licensed trademark lawyer rather than relying on advice from non-professionals like trademark consultants. The USPTO even recommends hiring an attorney to help with the trademark process. Although trademark consultants may provide advice on trademark availability or name marketability, they cannot file the trademark for you or offer legal advice. According to the Rules of Practicing in trademark cases, "Individuals who are not attorneys are not recognized to practice before the Office in trademark matters." This rule applies to individuals who assist trademark applicants.

When searching for a trademark attorney, it's important to find someone with a strong background in trademark law. Look for an attorney who specializes in this area and has significant experience handling trademark-related cases. Avoid lawyers who don't have expertise in this field, as they may not be able to provide the guidance and support you need.

Ensure your attorney provides updates throughout the trademark registration process to avoid missing deadlines, including responding to any Office actions within six months. Failure to do so can result in trademark abandonment. The USPTO will only correspond with the listed attorney of record, so make sure your attorney keeps you informed.

In summary:

  • Be sure you're using a licensed trademark attorney helping clients in Mesa, AZ.
  • It's best to work with a trademark lawyer who has years of experience filing trademarks.
  • Ensure that your trademark lawyer is willing to provide ongoing notifications relating to your trademark application process.
 Trademark Registration Lawyer Mesa, AZ

Trademark Attorneys Working Hard for You

Building your brand and gaining recognition for it is a significant achievement, and it's important to protect it. However, there are certain pitfalls and mistakes that can arise, causing you to lose your rights to the mark that represents it. By working with knowledgeable trademark attorneys, you can avoid these issues and file your trademark successfully.

With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Sausser Summers, PC, offers comprehensive guidance, strategic advice, and reliable representation for a variety of trademark matters. Our attorneys have years of real-world experience and, having registered countless trademarks with the USPTO, provide our clients with individualized representation when they need it most.

If you're looking for skilled, adept, and experienced counsel, look no further than our trademark law firm. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation and learn how we can help you safeguard your brand.

Latest News in Mesa, AZ

Arizona Athletic Grounds at Mesa Campus acquired by affiliate of Rocky Mountain Resources

AZ Athletic Associates LLC acquires former 'Legacy Park' in Mesa, AZBurke Operating Partners provides diligence and investment support MESA, Ariz., Dec. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AZ Athletic Associates LLC ("AZAA"), an affiliate of Rocky Mountain Resources ("RMR") and Burke Operating Partners, has acquired the sports and entertainment complex formerly known as Legacy Park in Mesa, AZ. The facility, now known as Arizona Athletic Grounds at Mesa Campus ("AAG"), opened in 2022. AAG...

AZ Athletic Associates LLC acquires former 'Legacy Park' in Mesa, AZ

Burke Operating Partners provides diligence and investment support

MESA, Ariz., Dec. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AZ Athletic Associates LLC ("AZAA"), an affiliate of Rocky Mountain Resources ("RMR") and Burke Operating Partners, has acquired the sports and entertainment complex formerly known as Legacy Park in Mesa, AZ. The facility, now known as Arizona Athletic Grounds at Mesa Campus ("AAG"), opened in 2022. AAG is one of the largest youth-oriented sports facilities in North America.

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The Mesa facility serves over 4,000,000 visitors per year, providing youth and adult athletic programming as well as a variety of special events. The website (www.elitesportsaz.com) will continue to be the landing point for AAG booking and information for a period before a media and branding relaunch in 2024. For additional information on rentals, sponsorship, or event programming at AAG, please reach out to the AAG team.

"We believe that with AAG - community comes first. We are positioned to manage this operation with world class service from today forward," said Chad Brownstein, Chairman of AZAA and RMR. Mesa is a special family community that we are pleased to be part of. AAG will strive to deliver a bespoke experience to our local and national guests. AAG intends to devote resources to the at-risk youth of Mesa and extended Phoenix Valley."

"I am pleased to close this complex acquisition," said Michael Burke, President of AZAA and Burke Operating Partners. "Under new and professional ownership, our management team, sports directors and staff are well-positioned to offer the highest-quality programming serving our valued customers and patrons. We will be rolling out innovative services such as dedicated concierges and logistical planning coordinators to support our guests, as well as integrated media services for families on and off the grounds. Continued facility improvements including family lodging and hospitality focused on sports and guest comfort will be implemented in 2024 and beyond."

"This acquisition serves as a strategic fit for the platform at Rocky Mountain Resources. With our focus on sports and infrastructure, we will directly apply a deep bench of human capital and strategic resources," said Jonathan Ma, Principal at RMR.

About Rocky Mountain Resources (www.rmrholdings.com): RMR is a private organization dedicated to owning and operating infrastructure and sporting assets. Founded in 2006, RMR is based in Los Angeles and Denver.

Media Contact: Elana Weiss The Rose Group [email protected]

SOURCE Rocky Mountain Resources

1.5 million sq ft data center campus proposed in Mesa, Arizona

Plans have been filed for a six-building campus in Mesa, Arizona, likely by Novva Data Centers.First reported by Azbex and the Mesa Tribune, an unnamed company has filed a ...

Plans have been filed for a six-building campus in Mesa, Arizona, likely by Novva Data Centers.

First reported by Azbex and the Mesa Tribune, an unnamed company has filed a pre-submittal application with the City of Mesa for a data center campus known as ‘Project Borealis.’

Project Borealis is a six-building campus that would include an office complex and warehouse on approximately 160.49 acres at the northwest corner Ellsworth and Warner roads.

The site would include six 257,000 sq ft (23,875 sqm) data centers and two on-site substations.

Azbex noted the site will use a closed-loop water system consisting of a mix of 60 percent water and 40 percent glycol. Each data center building will require 200,000 gallons to fill the systems in a one-time event. They would also use free-cooling when ambient temperatures are below 72°F (22°C).

Azbex notes the pre-submittal narrative from project representative Quarles & Brady LLP does not identify the owner, but the property was acquired in an Aug. 29 Arizona State Land Department auction.

US firm Novva acquired 160 acres of land in Mesa along Ellsworth and Warner roads in late August. Without providing details, at the time the company said it aimed to have plans before the city planning & zoning board by Q1 2024 and could break ground in 2025.

Novva declined to comment to DCD about the development.

Mesa Planning Department staffers are scheduled to meet with Project Borealis representatives on December 19 to discuss the plan ahead of a formal application.

Novva was launched in 2020 by former C7 CEO Wes Swenson with $95 million from CIM, initially with plans to develop a $1 billion hyperscale campus in West Jordan, Utah. The company opened the 300,000 square foot (28,000 sqm) first phase of that campus late last year, and targets growing the facility to 1.5 million sq ft (140,000 sq m) over four phases.

The company has since acquired a 6MW facility in Colorado Springs and announced plans to expand it to 30MW for $200 million. 2022 also saw Novva announce plans for a 275,000 square foot (25,550 sqm), 100MW data center in Las Vegas.

Earlier this year, the company announced plans for a 60MW data center in Reno, Nevada that is set to open in 2024. The company is also planning a facility in San Francisco, California.

Phoenix is a major data center hub, with the Mesa area home to Polish software firm Comarch as well as EdgeCore, Meta, Google, Novva, Apple, CyrusOne, and NTT. Amazon is planning two campuses in Mesa, while landowner Pacific Proving is also planning to develop a large campus in the area.

Across the rest of Phoenix, the likes of Stack, Stream, Prime, Aligned, Iron Mountain, Vantage, Compass, QTS, EdgeConneX, Expedient, and H5 are all present. Microsoft operates a cloud region out of the area.

Enduring Myth in Mesa: Roaming alligators

A good story never dies. Recently, social media has been alive with reported sightings of an alligator in one of Mesa’s most placid and inviting lakes — Riverview Park at Dobson and Rio Salado.It’s where hundreds of kids, mostly oblivious to critters in the lake, go every day to partake in the park’s many amenities.But social media outlets like Reddit have been posting pictures of what certainly seems to be an alligator lazily soaking up the sun near a pedestrian path.Is it really an alligator?...

A good story never dies. Recently, social media has been alive with reported sightings of an alligator in one of Mesa’s most placid and inviting lakes — Riverview Park at Dobson and Rio Salado.

It’s where hundreds of kids, mostly oblivious to critters in the lake, go every day to partake in the park’s many amenities.

But social media outlets like Reddit have been posting pictures of what certainly seems to be an alligator lazily soaking up the sun near a pedestrian path.

Is it really an alligator?

Yes. It appears to be a gator — but just not a living one. Only a replica, possibly placed there by the parks department.

Anywhere else, it might just be an amusing novelty. But in Mesa there is great sensitivity to anything alligator related.

That’s because for over 60 years, alligators have been an important part of our urban lore — both fact and fiction.

The mythical part is the belief that for decades, alligators, like Big Foot, the Yeti or maybe the Loch Ness monster, have quietly inhabited our canals and lakes — sometimes, some say, even popping up out of toilets.

Ridiculous? In part. There is some truth to this enduring legend.

We have to go back to the mid-1950s when a young man from Christian Pass, Mississippi, brought a bunch of alligators and some other exotic animals to Mesa and opened Jack Adam’s Alligator Farm, a novel business just east of the Starlight Motel, where the Diving Lady demonstrates her aquatic prowess each night at Main Street and Lindsay Road.

To say that alligators in the desert was an oddity is an understatement.

It even earned Adam a 1955 appearance on the popular television show “What’s My Line?” His story was so unbelievable that it nearly stumped the celebrity panel, earning Adam the $50 prize (about $561 today).

For nearly a decade, the business was a popular attraction. In 1962 for its opening, Adam sold three 10-foot gators to the Maytag Zoo, now the Phoenix Zoo.

A year later, Adam was ready for a change. A big change.

He decided to give up his reptilian enterprise for something completely different: God.

In 1963, when Adam returned to a seminary that he briefly attended before coming to Arizona, he leased his enterprise to Dale Logiston, a reptile dealer from Fort Worth, Texas.

Without the charismatic, local celebrity Adam to keep the visitors coming, business rapidly waned.

Logiston transferred some of the most valuable specimens to Texas, locked the gate and walked away, abandoning more than 200 hibernating gators.

You might imagine what happened next.

Years later, one Mesa High School student recalled, “It didn’t take long for us to figure out that Jack was gone and we could take free tours of the alligator farm.”

Word quickly got around that gators “were free for the taking.” The reaction was what you might expect of fun-loving teenagers: “Wow! Free alligators! How cool is that?”

“One of our industrious friends concluded that the poor gators would soon starve without some attention,” one student remembered. “Since he was not experienced or prepared to care for the 2-dozen water-bound lizards, he concluded that these poor animals should be set free.”

Leading to the great “Alligator Farm Raid.”

“Over one weekend, a small group of teenagers quietly moved all of the gators from the zoo enclosure to the local lakes and canals.”

The daring escapade even led to the CBS Evening when Walter Cronkite closed out a broadcast by disclosing:

“And now this from Mesa, Arizona — a town being overrun by alligators. That’s right. Alligators in canals, irrigation ditches, swimming pools and even Mesa High School.

“It seems some students at Mesa High have liberated and relocated dozens of these reptiles from a closed-down alligator farm. And now these critters are showing up all over town. So be careful out there in Mesa.”

Well, now you know how this part myth and part fact took hold. And endures to this today. As for a real alligator in Riverview Park?

Well, that’s just a load of croc.

What is Mesa, AZ Known For? 10 Things to Love About This City

Welcome to Mesa, AZ, a city known for its vibrant arts scene, outdoor adventures, and friendly communities. With a commitment to educational excellence, diverse culinary offerings, and a thriving business environment, Mesa offers a remarkable destination for residents and visitors alike. Join us in t...

Welcome to Mesa, AZ, a city known for its vibrant arts scene, outdoor adventures, and friendly communities. With a commitment to educational excellence, diverse culinary offerings, and a thriving business environment, Mesa offers a remarkable destination for residents and visitors alike. Join us in this Redfin article as we uncover the unique attributes that make Mesa truly stand out.

1. Arts and cultural districts

Mesa is known for its vibrant arts and cultural districts. These districts are home to a diverse range of art galleries, theaters, and performance spaces. Visitors can explore the local art scene, attend live performances, and immerse themselves in the city’s rich cultural heritage.

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Explore homes with the Redfin app anytime, anywhere. Download app 2. Outdoor adventure opportunities

Mesa offers a plethora of outdoor adventure opportunities. From hiking and biking trails in the nearby Superstition Mountains to water sports on the Salt River, outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty to do. The city’s warm climate and stunning natural landscapes make it an ideal destination for those seeking adventure and exploration.

3. Friendly communities

The city offers a welcoming environment, with excellent schools, parks, and recreational facilities. Residents can enjoy a wide range of activities together, from visiting the local zoo to exploring the interactive museums.

4. Educational excellence

The city is home to top-rated schools and colleges, providing students with a high-quality education. Additionally, Mesa is known for its commitment to lifelong learning, offering a variety of educational programs and resources for residents of all ages.

5. Vibrant local markets

Mesa is famous for its vibrant local markets. These markets showcase the city’s diverse culinary scene, local artisans, and unique products. Visitors can browse through a wide array of fresh produce, handmade crafts, and specialty goods while experiencing the lively atmosphere of the market.

6. Culinary diversity

The city boasts a wide range of restaurants, cafes, and food trucks, offering cuisines from around the world. From Mexican street food to Mediterranean delicacies, food lovers will find a plethora of options to satisfy their taste buds.

7. Thriving business environment

Mesa is home to a diverse range of industries, including aerospace, healthcare, and technology. With its strategic location, skilled workforce, and supportive business community, Mesa provides ample opportunities for entrepreneurs and businesses to thrive.

8. Historic downtown areas

Mesa is known for its historic downtown area. The downtown area is filled with charming architecture, quaint shops, and local businesses. Visitors can stroll through the streets, admire the historic buildings, and explore the unique shops and restaurants that give the city its distinct character.

9. Community parks and recreation

Mesa is proud of its community parks and recreation facilities. The city offers a wide range of parks, playgrounds, and sports fields, providing residents with ample opportunities for outdoor activities and recreation. Whether it’s a leisurely picnic in the park or a competitive game of soccer, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

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10. Cultural and historical landmarks

Mesa is home to a wealth of cultural and historical landmarks. From ancient Native American ruins to well-preserved historic sites, the city offers a glimpse into its rich past. Visitors can explore museums, heritage sites, and archaeological sites, immersing themselves in Mesa’s fascinating history and cultural heritage.

If you are represented by an agent, this is not a solicitation of your business. This article is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for professional advice from a medical provider, licensed attorney, financial advisor, or tax professional. Consumers should independently verify any agency or service mentioned will meet their needs. Learn more about our Editorial Guidelines here.

Marissa is part of the content marketing team and enjoys writing about real estate trends and home improvement. Her dream home is a contemporary-style house with ample outdoor space.

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Burrito Shack’s building not up to code, forced to shut down in Mesa

MESA, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) — A burrito shop in business in the East Valley was forced to shut down and look for a new place to operate after Maricopa County said its building wasn’t safe.For 17 years, the Burrito Shack off Power Road near the Phoenix Mesa-Gateway Airport has served up Mexican food. Co-owner John Grafing says the county went in about a week and a half ago to inspect. The next day, they were hit with a cease and desist order to sh...

MESA, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) — A burrito shop in business in the East Valley was forced to shut down and look for a new place to operate after Maricopa County said its building wasn’t safe.

For 17 years, the Burrito Shack off Power Road near the Phoenix Mesa-Gateway Airport has served up Mexican food. Co-owner John Grafing says the county went in about a week and a half ago to inspect. The next day, they were hit with a cease and desist order to shut down immediately. “It’s really unfortunate. We’ve gone through many struggles in the past like COVID and other scenarios,” Grafing said. “It’s unfortunate because we don’t have much of a choice. It’s out of our hands.”

The order was about the building not being up to safety codes, not about food or food prep. Grafing worked here for years under his grandfather. When he took over the business about a year and a half ago, he made his friend Zeppelin Lucero a co-owner. The two talked about as kids one day owning the shop. “Driving down this road and not seeing Burrito Shack being there is going to be weird,” Lucero said.

Many new builds are going up around this part of east Mesa and Gilbert. Lucero says they cannot wait a year or two for a brand-new spot. They have a commercial real estate agent now helping them find a new location. They plan to keep the Burrito Shack name at their new spot. “It was sad and a shock, Grafing said. “It was a lot to take in. It may take a few weeks, or months. We don’t know exactly, but as soon as possible, be up and running again.”

Grafing says they rent the building. They were told they would need to pay for any upgrades or repairs. Grafing said the cost would not make sense on a building decades old.

Six employees aren’t working right now as the owners look for a new location. They are asking for help while they are all out of work. You can donate to their cause by clicking here.

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