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Gristedes, Trader Joe’s Reach Settlement

The controversial new grocery store in Manhattan originally called Trader John’s will be rechristened Grocer John’s, according to terms of a settlement between its owner, Gristedes Foods, and Trader Joe’s, the nearby specialty store that sued it for trademark infringement.

NEW YORK — The controversial new grocery store in Manhattan originally called Trader John’s will be rechristened Grocer John’s, according to terms of a settlement between its owner, Gristedes Foods, and Trader Joe’s, the nearby specialty store that sued it for trademark infringement.

John Catsimatidis, chairman of Gristedes parent the Red Apple Group, told SN Monday that the store — which had the word “Trader” covered at its entrance as the result of a temporary restraining order — would change the name to Grocer John’s within a few weeks.

“Our lawyers think we could have won, that the word ‘Trader’ is no different than ‘Mart’ or ‘Supermarket,’” Catsimatidis said. “But who wants to make a federal case out of it?”

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