A Pokemon trading card store in Manhattan that drew widespread attention following an armed robbery has changed its name after receiving a trademark request from Nintendo.
The business formerly known as The Poké Court now operates as The Trainer Court, a rebranding that followed contact from Nintendo regarding use of protected intellectual property.
The January incident involved three armed, masked individuals who entered the store during a community event and made off with more than $100,000 in merchandise, including trading cards and other collectible products. No serious injuries were reported, and local law enforcement investigated the case.
The Fallout
The Poké Court had opened its retail location in Manhattan the previous year and built a following among collectors for its events and inventory of trading card products. After the robbery attracted local and online attention, Nintendo, the holder of the Pokémon franchise rights, reached out with concerns about the store’s name and logo, which included trademarked elements.
In response to the contact, the owners opted to rename and rebrand the business. A social media post from the store announced the new name, The Trainer Court, and noted that changes were made to avoid potential trademark issues while allowing continued operation. The updated branding removed the use of the Poké Ball symbol and the “Poké” prefix.
A Pokémon card shop is rebranding after Nintendo contacted the owners over trademark following an armed robbery at the store
The outpouring of support from the incident alerted Nintendo to The Poké Court’s name and logo pic.twitter.com/C6ILGnpYQM
— Dexerto (@Dexerto) February 21, 2026
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The store’s official website posted about the change saying,
First, thank you to everyone for the insane support we’ve seen, both near and far, in the less than two years we’ve been open. ♥️
From our small office space to the retail location and online presence we have now, we have been so appreciative of this amazing community, and remain committed and excited to continue sharing our love for Pokémon and this hobby you all.
The short story is that Nintendo reached out to us with concerns about our name and logo. As we also have some new and exciting things planned for this year, we’ve decided to take this opportunity to evolve!
We are now: The Trainer Court
Our first form “The Poké Court” will always be in our hearts, but the journey to being the very best never stops!
Only hits at The Trainer Court 💫
Context
Nintendo’s policies require careful protection of names and imagery associated with its properties. The Pokémon franchise is among the company’s most well-known and widely licensed intellectual properties worldwide. Licensing guidelines generally restrict unauthorized commercial use of trademarked names, logos, and character likenesses.
Observers noted contrasting perspectives on Nintendo’s involvement. Some argued that contacting a small business shortly after a traumatic robbery could be viewed as insensitive, while others highlighted that trademark enforcement is a routine legal requirement for rights holders.
Key art for Pokémon GO (2024), Niantic
Since the name change, The Trainer Court has continued to host events and serve customers, according to its public communications. The store’s owners expressed appreciation for community support following both the robbery and the brand transition. They also said they planned to maintain their role as a local hub for collectors and enthusiasts.
The robbery itself was part of a broader pattern of thefts targeting specialty card shops and collectibles retailers in the United States, with other high-value losses reported in recent months. The rising market value of trading cards has made such businesses a target for criminals.
Key art for Pokémon UNITE (2021), TiMi Studio Group
The rebranding effort reflects both legal realities and the challenges faced by niche retailers operating in the current collectibles market. While The Trainer Court moves forward under its new name, the impact of the robbery and the trademark request continues to generate discussion among customers and collectors.
What do you think of the Pokemon card store name change? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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Never ceases to amaze me what people are willing to do over a piece of cardboard..
This seems rather petty on Nintendo’s part. The decision was likely made by some smelly DEI broad.
To be fair, if they know of an instance of infringement and let it continue it risks their TM, which is especially tough right now as they’re in some massive legal battles against products like Palworld and other up-and-comers. Still, they could have offered them a license for $1 a year or something “in support of the shop after a traumatic event” or whatever and won a HUGE PR victory.