Updated with comment from Blood & Sand ownership.

Blood & Sand, the members-only restaurant and bar in Downtown West, filed suit Wednesday in federal court alleging trademark infringement by a Buffalo, N.Y., establishment of the same name.

"We have worked hard for many years to cultivate a brand identity we are very proud of," Blood & Sand co-owner Adam Frager said. "We trademarked our name a couple of years ago for this very reason."

Per the lawsuit, the owners of the Buffalo establishment registered Blood & Sand LLC with New York's secretary of state on March 17.

The lawsuit claims that the St. Louis Blood & Sand learned of the Buffalo establishment on July 12 from "one of Blood & Sand's New York customers who mistook Defendant for Blood & Sand."

The lawsuit adds that there have been "numerous instances of actual confusion" but does not provide further details.

According to the lawsuit, the Buffalo Blood & Sand opened on July 24. However, its most recent Facebook post, also on July 24, says that it will open officially on Aug. 15.