Modell's Sporting Goods

Modell's Sporting Goods Online, Inc.

Company type	Private
Industry	Sporting goods retail
Founded	January 1, 1889 (1889-01-01) in New York City, United States
Founder	Morris Modell
Fate	Brand acquired by Retail Ecommerce Ventures in 2020; physical stores closed
Headquarters	New York City , United States
Area served	United States (online)
Key people	Mitchell Modell (CEO)
Products	Sporting goods, athletic apparel
Owner	Retail Ecommerce Ventures
Website	www.modells.com

Modell's Sporting Goods Online, Inc. operates as a U.S.-based e-commerce retailer specializing in sporting goods and athletic apparel. Established in 1889 by Morris Modell in New York City, the company maintained physical retail locations until 2020. That year, private equity firm Retail Ecommerce Ventures acquired the brand.

History

Originating from a single outlet on Manhattan's Cortlandt Street, Modell's was founded by Hungarian immigrant Morris A. Modell and ranks among the longest-standing sporting goods retailers in North America. The business remained under family ownership for four generations. Initially, it also ran discount stores under the "Modell's Shopper's World" name until 1989, when increased competition prompted a strategic shift to concentrate solely on sporting goods.

From 1985 onward, William Modell served as chairman and was recognized for his philanthropic contributions, notably founding the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. At its height, Modell's operated 152 locations mainly throughout New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, with additional stores in other Northeastern states. The flagship store was situated near Manhattan’s Times Square.

Mitchell Modell held the CEO position and gained public attention through an appearance on Undercover Boss in 2012. In 2014, he became involved in litigation initiated by competitor Dick's Sporting Goods over allegations of corporate espionage; the dispute was resolved privately without any admission of guilt.

Following a disappointing holiday sales period in 2019, Modell's announced plans to shutter 24 low-performing stores early in 2020 and sought guidance from financial advisors. Despite these measures, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on March 11, 2020, subsequently closing all remaining outlets by August due to complications arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In August 2020, Retail Ecommerce Ventures purchased Modell's assets for $3.6 million and revived the brand exclusively as an online retailer. By March 2023, Retail Ecommerce Ventures encountered its own financial distress and explored bankruptcy options while pursuing restructuring strategies.

Local sports affiliations

Modell's actively participated in community initiatives such as Team Weeks, which supported educational institutions, sports leagues, and nonprofit organizations. The company also sponsored numerous professional sports franchises across its core East Coast market. These included the Baltimore Orioles, Baltimore Ravens, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, New York Mets, New York Yankees, New York Giants, New York Jets, New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia 76ers, Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals, and Washington Nationals, along with various minor league baseball teams.

Some industry observers attributed Modell’s financial difficulties during the 2010s partly to the poor performance of New York-area sports teams during that time frame, which negatively affected merchandise sales.

Art Modell—grandson of founder Morris A. Modell and former owner of NFL teams Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens—was not involved with Modell's Sporting Goods operationally. Nevertheless, the company sought to capitalize on this perceived association during its 2004 expansion into Maryland markets; however, despite expectations that Art Modell’s connection to a Super Bowl-winning franchise would boost growth prospects, the expansion did not achieve significant success.

External links

• , official website of the company