Business & Tech

Cafe Hon Owner Apologizes for 'Hon' Trademark

The reality show Kitchen Nightmares has been filming at the restaurant. Denise Whiting says she will give up the trademark as part of the show's rehabilitation of the Hampden restaurant.

An emotional Denise Whiting, who owns Café Hon, announced that she is giving back her trademark on the colloquialism “hon,” and asked for forgiveness on Monday morning.

Whiting went on Mix 106.5 FM’s Jo Jo and Reagan Show to renounce her trademark, and said the controversy regarding the trademark has almost put her Hampden restaurant out of business.

“I’ll just take it off the register, I can do that,” Whiting said.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Gordon Ramsay, the celebrity chef whose show Kitchen Nightmares has been filming this weekend at , announced on the show the restaurant is unveiling an all-new menu tonight.

“Today I get a second chance, and I just want to say I am sorry for the animosity and hatred and everything that trademarking a word, just a word, has done. I’ve always promoted the city in a positive way,” Whiting said.  

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Ramsay described the process of trying to rehabilitate the restaurant and Whiting’s image as going to “hell and back.”

Follow North Baltimore Patch on Twitter and Facebook.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from North Baltimore