They're winning when it comes to Joe!
A New York City liquor store that recently opened a few blocks from a shuttered Trader Joe's Wine Shop is exploiting the grocery chain's intellectual property and confusing customers, the retail giant says in a new lawsuit. argued in a lawsuit.
According to court documents, Trader Joe's is owned by Joe's Wine Co., a popular former wine store in Union Square that not only has a similar name but closed two years ago after workers tried to unionize. They accused him of imitating aesthetics.
Even though other stores in the city, including Joe's Pizza, use the name “Joe,” the grocery store says its trademark is synonymous with “high-quality, affordable food and alcohol.” The company is demanding that the family-run store change its name and pay damages. According to a lawsuit filed Nov. 20 in New York federal court.
Open during the summer at 113 3rd Ave., Joe's Wine Company's name pays homage to the owners' family's winemaking traditions that date back to 12th century Spain. said in a statement to Gothamist.
The company claimed that the name “Joseph” is also a family name that has been passed down from generation to generation.
A spokesperson for Joe's Wine Company told the magazine, “It's hard enough to open a small business in New York City these days without the constant threats and intimidation of lawsuits we receive from Trader Joe's.” spoke.
“We are hard-working people here, true New Yorkers, who respect our winemaking traditions and do everything we can to benefit this community by providing quality wine and spirits at affordable prices.” I’m trying.”
Joe's Wine Company did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Post.
The lawsuit also alleges that the small business uses Trader Joe's color scheme and wood paneling, a circular red logo, and other promotions offering similar deals to the grocery store, including a sign that reads “100 Bottles of Wine Under $12.” He was accused of stealing the banner.
The liquor store is “actively creating consumer confusion,” the lawsuit alleges, and Trader Joe's lawyers say the store is “actively creating consumer confusion,” and that Trader Joe's is selling Taste Wine, a liquor retailer in another city that went out of business in 2020. – He claims that he chose to change the company name after purchasing the company's “assets.”
A company spokesperson countered that the family-run company had simply purchased a license to Taste Wine.
Alfred Zeher, a lawyer representing Joe's Wine Company, said: “It's no surprise that we, one of hundreds of people, would find it a little confusing when there are so many existing uses for Joe. It doesn't make sense,'' he said. Outlet.
“The only similarity between our mark and theirs is the word Joe. Their mark is Trader Joe's. It's mostly traders. No one calls them Joe.”
He added that the color scheme and circular logo allegedly used before the opening have since been replaced with a woody brown sign that omits the circle.
Trader Joe's currently operates 10 stores in Manhattan, including one on 14th Street, three blocks from Joe's Wine Company.
