Pokémon Store Robbed, Then Hit With Surprise Demand

Nintendo contacted The Poké Court with concerns about its name and logo. The store is now rebranding as The Trainer Court on its storefront, social media, and website. Its stylized Pokéball logo is being replaced by a simple green “C.”

The store posted a statement on Instagram calling the change “evolving.” The post received over 2,000 likes and support from Sarah Natochenny, the former voice of Ash Ketchum.

Last month, The Poké Court was robbed at gunpoint. Staff and customers were held at gunpoint, and $100,000 in stock was stolen. The robbery drew media attention and public sympathy. Nintendo’s outreach was to raise intellectual property concerns, not to offer aid.

Robberies of Pokémon card stores have also occurred in Boston, Los Angeles, and Seattle. A December incident in Burbank involved $100,000 in stolen stock. California police linked the Burbank theft to about six similar regional crimes. Many other incidents have been reported nationwide over the past year.