It’s been almost ten years since you could buy Trader Joe’s products in Vancouver.
Nowadays, with tensions brewing at the border, it’s less likely for Vancouverites to head south and get their specialty treats in Bellingham. But there was a time when you could get it right in the city, where every item came from Trade Joe’s shelves.
We’re taking a look back on one of Vancouver’s most iconic stores that has since shut down.
Pirate Joe’s
Pirate Joe’s was first founded in 2012 by Michael Hallatt, although it began with the name of “Transilvania Trading.” The store name Pirate Joe’s wouldn’t come along until later in the year.
It began with Hallatt’s fondness for Trader Joe’s while he was living in the San Francisco Bay Area. When he moved back to Vancouver, his hometown, he opened up a shop that would resell the iconic grocery store’s products. The business model required him to make weekly trips to the U.S. to gather Trade Joe’s products in an unmarked van; he regularly spent around $4,000 to $5,000 per trip.
Back at Pirate Joe’s, Hallat would mark the items up between $2 to $3. But that wasn’t enough to sustain the store, as Hallat has stated that it “barely” made enough money to stay afloat and operational as expenses mounted from costs like salaries, rent, and the price of the trips past the border.
Was It Legal?
Pirate Joe’s existed as a legal grey market business. These are businesses that distribute products through unauthorized channels outside of the original manufacturer or trademark proprietor.
Perhaps expectedly, Trader Joe’s wasn’t too enthused about Hallat’s store. By May 2013, Trader Joe’s filed a lawsuit against Hallat. They claimed that Pirate Joe’s was infringing on its trademarks, as well as damaging its reputation. The lawsuit was ultimately dismissed in 2013 because Hallat couldn’t be convicted under US trademark law.
The lawsuit was reopened on appeal, though. This eventually led to Pirate Joe’s to close in 2017 as legal costs continued to grow.
These days, you’ll have to go to the U.S. to get any of your Trade Joe’s favourites, although Canadians are now boycotting the border amidst tariff and Trump tensions.
