Four former executives of G.I. Joe's have been thwarted in their attempt to bring back the Pacific Northwest chain. Ron Menconi, Joe's former vice president of marketing and merchandise who had served as the new company's president, told The Oregonian, “All I can say is that our project is not going forward. We're not bringing back the company, let's put it that way. We're very disappointed.”
The move came after UFA Holdings Inc., the Canadian company that bought many of Joe's names during the liquidation last year, sued the executives and their new company for trademark infringement. In its suit, UFA sought damages of at least $75,000. A settlement in the case is pending, but it precludes UFA and the four Joe's executives from discussing the deal.
“In an especially notorious infringement of UFA's rights in the intellectual property …” the lawsuit said, “defendants are even referring to their activities as 'The G.I. Joe's Comeback.”'
UFA acquired Joe's names “G.I. Joe's,” “Joe's Outdoors,” “Seize the Weekend,” “Joe's Sports, Outdoor & More,” “Joe's Sports & Outdoors.” UFA also operates Wholesale Sports locations in the U.S. and Canada. In the U.S., many of those stores are former Sportsman Warehouse locations, which UFA also bought out of bankruptcy in 2008. UFA also acquired Joe's' website properties.
