Coco’s Drops ‘California’ From Its Name

Coco’s, the Irvine-based restaurant chain that is undergoing a major face lift, is changing its name for a second time because of a lawsuit filed by a Northern California chain.

The California Cafe Restaurant Corp., based in Corte Madera, claimed in federal court that it already owned the name “California Cafe.” The case was settled, with Coco’s agreeing to change its name from Coco’s California Cafe to Coco’s Cafe and Bakery.

Julie Weeks, spokeswoman for Coco’s parent, the Advantica Restaurant Group, said the settlement was not a financial one and that the name was changed only in part because of the suit.

“We conducted research on a meaningful name, and in talking to our customers we concluded the Coco’s Cafe and Bakery name more accurately reflected the baked goods that people associate with Coco’s,” Weeks said.

The remodeling program is an effort to reverse a three-year record of flat or declining sales.