Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce just watched their off-field brand walk into the kind of heat they usually put on defenses. A sneaker company has filed a federal trademark lawsuit over the name of their Kansas City steakhouse, 1587 Prime, dragging the Chiefs stars and their partners into a fight over four digits.At the same time, the restaurant is getting cooked in public. A detailed review from critic Liz Cook at Defector does not just side-eye the vibe. It questions the food, the service, and the bill, landing at a verdict that undercuts the hype built around Mahomes and Kelce’s first big restaurant play.
Trademark fight over ‘1587’ puts Mahomes and Kelce on defense
The first hit did not come from a defensive end. It arrived in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.On Threads, Farzin Vousoughian summed up the filing: “The sneaker company, 1587 Sneakers, has filed a lawsuit against Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Noble 33, owners of 1587 Prime. The lawsuit alleges trademark and apparel infringement, per ESPN. The lawsuit alleges that the restaurant name infringes upon its usage of the identical number combination.”1587 Sneakers describes itself as the first sneaker brand in the United States owned, designed, and inspired by Asian American culture. In the complaint, drafted by attorney Ezra Salami, the company says it has used the “1587” mark in commerce since April 13, 2023, selling footwear and apparel nationwide through its website and building recognition with national media coverage and an appearance on “Shark Tank.”The lawsuit claims Mahomes, Kelce and hospitality group Noble 33 launched 1587 Prime around September 2025 and did not just put the number on the sign outside. According to the complaint, the group sells apparel that “wholly adopt and incorporate” the “1587” mark and relies on the “verbatim incorporation” of those four digits in a way that is likely to confuse customers about source or sponsorship.The filing goes further, arguing this could have been avoided with basic research. It says “had the defendants done some simple due diligence before their launch and conducted a public internet search, they would have known [its] mark not only existed but also obtained national prominence.”Legally, the battle sits in a gray area. 1587 Sneakers applied for the “1587” trademark in October 2025 for clothing and other apparel, and that application is still pending. Mahomes, Kelce and their team applied for the “1587 Prime” mark in December 2023 in the bar and restaurant category. Trademark attorney Josh Gerben told ESPN the core question is whether consumers would reasonably think a steakhouse and a sneaker brand using “1587” are tied together, especially once both sides are selling clothing.There is already some evidence that confusion is part of the argument. The suit says “scores of consumers” have contacted 1587 Sneakers under the impression it is connected to 1587 Prime. The plaintiffs’ attorney declined to share that evidence publicly so far but said it will be produced if the case goes to trial.Co-founder Adam King struck a measured tone, saying, “From the onset, we have communicated a sincere belief that there is room for mutual respect and understanding. That belief has not changed, and we continue to hope to resolve this matter amicably.”A publicist for Kelce declined to comment, and a representative for Mahomes did not respond to ESPN. For now, the stars are silent while a brand almost nobody outside sneaker circles knew last year is suddenly in national headlines off their name.
Food critic Liz Cook says 1587 Prime is not living up to its price tag
Even before the lawsuit landed on Feb. 17, 1587 Prime was already under a different kind of review.Cook visited the steakhouse twice before publishing her piece for Defector. Her main line lands like a hit stick: “The main trouble with 1587 Prime isn’t its childlike idea of luxury.” She then finishes the thought: “It’s that it’s a steakhouse that doesn’t nail the steaks.”Cook credits the room for presentation, but the praise stops there. She writes that steaks arrived thin or overcooked and, at one point, without a steak knife. Service, in her view, sat in the middle of the road rather than matching the level of the price point Mahomes and Kelce are aiming for.The criticism extends to the menu’s attempt at star power. One of the headliners is “The Alchemy,” a cocktail nodding to Taylor Swift. Cook’s take is not the kind of pull quote a marketing deck wants: “The drink tasted like a Cosmo someone had strained through a French Vanilla Yankee Candle.”Then there is the check. Cook says the most expensive steak she ordered cost $78. She also notes being charged $15 for “three small ramekins of ketchup, one of which was pure uncut Heinz,” and $22 for The Alchemy. The final verdict is even harsher than the opening jab: “Ultimately, 1587 Prime is a parched vision of luxury, simultaneously overreliant on ChatGPT-grade luxury tropes, rehashed ideas from its outside restaurant group, and lazy local outsourcing for stations that a top-tier restaurant should staff.”Despite that kind of press, the restaurant is still drawing curious diners, helped by the star power of the two Chiefs players whose jersey numbers gave it its name. The open question is whether the brand can outlast its early reputation.Mahomes is rehabbing and restructuring his contract. Kelce is weighing what the next phase of his career looks like. Away from the field, their first big joint restaurant bet now has to hold up under a federal lawsuit and a viral review at the same time.
