Sporting goods chain Modell’s to close last stores

NEW YORK » Modell’s Sporting Goods, the century-old familyowned sporting goods chain, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and will be closing its remaining 115 stores.

It becomes the latest traditional retailer to succumb to a fast-changing environment. In recent years Payless ShoeSource Corp., Toys R Us and children’s chain Gymboree have filed for Chapter 11 reorganization or liquidated their operations.

Among the Modell’s locations that are slated to close are seven stores in Chester (1), Delaware (3) and Montgomery (3) counties. The area stores that will close include:

• 283 Main St., Main Street at Exton, West Whiteland Township, Chester County

• 1089 W. Baltimore Pike, Promenade at Granite Run, Delaware County

• 530 W. Baltimore Pike, Clifton Heights, Delaware County

• 78 South 69th St., Upper Darby, Delaware County

• 122-C Park Ave., Willow Grove Shopping Center, Upper Moreland, Montgomery County

• 160 N. Gulph Road, King of Prussia Mall, Upper Merion, Montgomery County

•1000 Easton Road, Cheltenham Township, Montgomery County.

A Modell’s spokeswoman said that as of Wednesday the company had 3,623 employees.

The New York-based retailer known for its “Gotta Go to Mo’s” ad slogan, said Wednesday it will start liquidation sales at the remaining stores Friday. It will team up with Tiger Capital Group to oversee the goingout-business sales. Tiger had helped the company liquidate 19 stores prior to the filing.

Modell’s has had its own challenges and the liquidation in 2016 of sporting goods giant Sports Authority, a 450-store chain, didn’t offer much respite. The chain, which sold mid-priced active wear brands, faced increasing competition from Dick’s Sporting Goods, the only national sporting goods chain left.

Meanwhile, Modell’s wrestled with more competition from Target, Walmart and Kohl’s, all of which are sprucing up their activewear lines. And at the high end, shoppers have options like Lululemon and Gap’s Athleta.

“Modell’s didn’t stand out,” said Neil Saunders, managing director at GlobalData Retail. “There’s a lot more competition.”

Founded in 1889 by Morris A. Modell, the first Modell’s store was located on Cortlandt Street in lower Manhattan, according to the company website. The chain, which is being run by the fourth generation of the Modell family, developed the business into a chain of over 150 stores throughout the Northeast.