Landlord begins eviction proceedings against Fall River’s Miss Lizzie Coffee

A popular local coffee shop may have to vacate from their current home after being dealt another blow in a separate legal ruling.

Miss Lizzie’s Coffee, a Lizzie Borden-themed coffee shop at 242 Second Street in Fall River has been embroiled in ongoing legal disputes with its neighbor, the Lizzie Borden House and now may get evicted.

The conflicts surrounding US Ghost Adventures stem from the coffee shop’s name and branding, which the Lizzie Borden House owners claim infringe on their trademarks and dilute the historic site’s reputation.

Opened in 2023 by owner Joseph Pereira, the coffee shop features signage with “Miss Lizzie’s Coffee” flanked by a coffee cup and a stylized bloody hatchet, drawing on the infamous 1892 axe murders associated with Lizzie Borden.

The primary legal battle began in September 2023 when US Ghost Adventures sued Miss Lizzie’s for trademark infringement and unfair competition in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The suit alleged that the coffee shop’s name and imagery caused consumer confusion, with some Borden House guests mistakenly believing the two businesses were affiliated. However, the district court denied a preliminary injunction in October 2023, finding no likelihood of confusion due to differences in services (coffee vs. lodging/tours) and customer bases. This ruling was upheld by the First Circuit Court of Appeals in November 2024, affirming that the businesses serve distinct markets and that Miss Lizzie’s use of the name did not infringe on the Borden House’s trademarks.

In November 2024, US Ghost Adventures filed a defamation lawsuit against Pereira and Miss Lizzie’s, accusing him of making false statements online and in media interviews. Pereira defaulted on this suit by failing to respond, leading to a court order last month requiring him to pay over $160,000 in damages and legal fees.

While the coffee shop and house continue their legal battle, 1301 Fall River Holdings LLC out of Westwood, Massachusetts has begun eviction proceedings against Miss Lizzie’s as they own the building.

According to court records from Fall River District Court, the landlord asked the eatery to leave by January 1st of this year and have a court date scheduled for this week.

No word yet on what the future holds for Miss Lizzie’s.