Shoe company co-founder explains why he’s suing Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- 1587 Sneakers sues Mahomes and Kelce, alleging their restaurant harms the sneaker brand
- Company says it launched in April 2023; listed as Oct. 30, 2025 trademark filing date.
- Founder hopes to resolve things amicably while claiming the steakhouse harms the brand.
Who could have guessed that combining the jersey numbers of Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce for a restaurant name would lead to a lawsuit?
Kelce and Mahomes last week were named in a trademark infringement complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York by 1587 Sneakers. The lawsuit claims the 1587 Prime Steakhouse from Mahomes and Kelce is causing damage to the shoe company.
The sneaker company began in April 2023. Kelce and Mahomes announced in March 2024 their plans for 1587 Prime, which opened last year. The United States Patent and Trademark Service shows 1587 Sneakers applied for a patent on Oct. 30, 2025, while the 1587 Prime steakhouse filed for a trademark on Aug. 22, 2023.
Adam King, who founded 1587 Sneakers with Sam Hyun and Jose Antonio Vargas, released a statement Monday explaining the lawsuit. King made a point of saying he’s a fan of Kelce and Mahomes.
“When Sam and I dreamed up 1587 in our basement, our goal was simple: celebrate AAPI culture and make amazing products. We rallied around the deeply human need to be unapologetically yourself — and never imagined how widely that idea would resonate. We are proud of, and grateful for, the hard work, creativity and persistence that have helped build 1587 into a national brand. It represents AAPI history, resilience and a community that has long been overlooked,” King wrote in a statement on Instagram.
“This past week, we took formal legal action against Noble 33 for using our name, causing signification harm to our business. While we are fans of Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes and respect their accomplishments on the field and in the community, it’s important to acknowledge that — for years now — 1587 has stood on its own, shaped by intentional effort and cultural storytelling.
“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.”
This story was originally published February 25, 2026 at 12:00 PM.
