And this week’s Trader Joe litigation attempt is
A New York City liquor store that recently opened just blocks away from the now-shuttered Trader Joe’s Wine Shop is cashing in on the intellectual property of the grocery chain and confusing customers, the retail behemoth claimed in a new lawsuit.
Trader Joe’s blasted Joe’s Wine Co. for not only sharing a similar name but copying the aesthetic of the beloved former wine store in Union Square, which closed two years ago after workers tried to unionize, according to court papers.
Despite other city-based businesses using the name “Joe,” including Joe’s Pizza, the grocer is demanding the family-owned business change its name and pay damages, alleging its trademark is synonymous with “high-quality, affordable groceries and alcohol,” according to the suit, filed on Nov. 20 in New York federal court.
The name of Joe’s Wine Co., which opened over the summer at at 113 3rd Ave., pays homage to the owners’ family heritage of winemaking that dates back to 12th-century Spain, the company said in a statement to the Gothamist.
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