Modell's Sporting Goods

Modell's March 2020 bankruptcy ended 131 years of family ownership. The Northeast sporting goods chain faced competition from both Dick's Sporting Goods and Amazon while operating dated stores in expensive urban locations. CEO Mitchell Modell, fourth-generation owner, sought a buyer but found none. COVID delivered the final blow weeks after filing. Modell's demonstrated the squeeze between scale players and e-commerce that left regional retailers with nowhere to survive - too small for buying power, too physical for online economics.