Small town defends its name from the clothing giant.

The residents of Hollister, CA are mad. But they’re not mad at city officials—they’re mad at Abercrombie & Fitch. The clothing giant, which owns Hollister—a line of surf clothes—is now threatening to sue local merchants who are selling clothes with the town’s name. And the clothing giant has also refused to open a store in the town, which would help the local economy. The spat began in 2006 when a woman added the name of her hometown to a pair of jeans, and was politely informed by Abercrombie to cut it out. “They’re a lot bigger than us,” she said, “I said, ‘Let’s just not argue.” But residents are fuming—and the local high school students are now unsure if they can be sued for wearing sweatshirts with the school’s nickname: The Hollister Haybalers.