bergeron attended heald college in san francisco. on november 17, 1934, using $500 in borrowed money, bergeron opened a small bar/restaurant across from his parents' grocery store at san pablo avenue and 65th street in the golden gate district of oakland. he named it hinky dink's. as its popularity spread, the menu and decor developed an increasingly tropical flair, and hinky dink's soon became trader vic's. in 1949 the first franchised trader vic's opened in seattle, washington, known as "the outrigger". in 1950, bergeron opened a trader vic's location in hawaii and in 1951 at 20 cosmo place in san francisco.