Pokémon Card Store Forced to Rebrand After Armed Robbery

Nintendo demands New York store change name and logo following high-profile incident.

Feb. 21, 2026 at 9:39am

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The Poké Court, a New York Pokémon card store that was the victim of a $100,000 armed robbery last month, is now being forced by Nintendo to rebrand as "The Trainer Court" due to concerns over the store's name and logo. The store will have to update its storefront, social accounts, and website in the coming days.

Why it matters

Pokémon card stores have been frequent targets of robberies across the U.S. over the past year, with thieves stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of merchandise. This case highlights the challenges small businesses face in protecting their inventory and brand identity, especially when dealing with powerful intellectual property owners like Nintendo.

The details

Last month, staff and customers at The Poké Court in New York were held at gunpoint during a robbery that resulted in $100,000 worth of Pokémon cards being stolen. Despite the widespread sympathy and support the store received following the incident, Nintendo has now contacted The Poké Court with "concerns" about its name and logo, forcing the business to rebrand as "The Trainer Court" and update its visual identity.

  • Last month, The Poké Court was the victim of an armed robbery that resulted in $100,000 worth of Pokémon cards being stolen.
  • In the days following the robbery, Nintendo reached out to The Poké Court with concerns about the store's name and logo.

The players

The Poké Court

A New York-based Pokémon card store that was the victim of a high-profile armed robbery last month.

Nintendo

The Japanese video game company that owns the Pokémon intellectual property and has a reputation for aggressively protecting its brands.

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What they’re saying

“The short story is Nintendo reached out to us with concerns about our name and logo. This means we're evolving! Same team, same ridiculous hit rate, and soon, even greater things coming your way.”

— The Trainer Court, Store statement

What’s next

The Trainer Court will have to fully rebrand its storefront, social media accounts, and website in the coming days to comply with Nintendo's demands.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges small businesses face when dealing with powerful intellectual property owners like Nintendo, who can force rebranding even after a traumatic incident like an armed robbery. It also underscores the broader trend of Pokémon card stores being targeted by thieves across the country.