In 1934, Victor Jules Bergeron, Jr. opened a restaurant in Oakland, California called Hinky Dinks. The restaurant was successful and, in 1937, Bergeron renamed it Trader Vic’s and began serving Polynesian-style cuisine.
The food was so popular that, in 1940, Bergeron opened a second Trader Vic’s in San Francisco.
Trader Vic’s became well-known for its Mai Tai cocktail and other Polynesian-inspired drinks. The restaurant chain expanded rapidly in the 1950s and 1960s, opening locations around the world.
By the 1970s, however, Trader Vic’s began to decline in popularity and many of the restaurants closed.
Today, there are only a handful of Trader Vic’s left in operation. Most of these are in the United States, although there are also locations in Europe and Asia.
While the restaurant chain is not as popular as it once was, it still has a devoted following among those who enjoy Polynesian cuisine and cocktails.
So, is Trader Vic’s related to Trader Joe’s? No, the two companies are not related.
Trader Joe’s is a grocery store chain that was founded in 1958 by Joe Coulombe. Coulombe named the company after himself and the “trader” style of business he wanted to emulate. Unlike Trader Vic’s, Trader Joe’s has never expanded beyond grocery stores and does not serve any food or drink items.
