Mitch Modell, former CEO of Modell’s Sporting Goods, has launched a new e-commerce apparel site after failed negotiations to repurchase the iconic retail brand, sources familiar with the situation said. The announcement came amid the New York Knicks reaching the NBA Finals, stoking interest in commemorative merchandise linked to the team’s success.
Modell introduced MitchellModells.com last Monday, selling a T-shirt celebrating the Knicks’ recent championship victory. The move follows months of intermittent discussions with Raj Gupta, head of Omni Retail Enterprises, which acquired Modell’s Sporting Goods in 2023 and now operates it exclusively as an online business.
The negotiations, which began in 2024, aimed to return ownership of the 137-year-old brand to the Modell family. The company, originally founded in 1889 by Modell’s great-grandfather Morris Modell, filed for bankruptcy in 2020 and shuttered 140 stores. Mitch Modell initially offered $500,000 to buy back the brand and later increased his bid to $1 million in December 2025. According to sources, an unsigned sale agreement was drafted but never finalized.
The deal encountered obstacles when Gupta proposed retaining a 5% equity stake in the company, along with a share of future profits. Modell insisted on gaining access to sales and customer data to assess the business’s viability but claimed that Gupta delayed providing this information for several months. Text messages reviewed by sources indicated growing frustration on Modell’s part, particularly over the direction of the Modell’s website, which he criticized for its limited product focus and questioned its readiness during peak demand following the Knicks’ championship.
Tensions escalated on June 12, the day before the Knicks secured the title, when Modell and Gupta exchanged heated texts. Modell accused Gupta of mishandling the website’s maintenance during a critical sales period, prompting a curt response from Gupta. Both parties confirmed the exchange but declined to provide further details.
In a brief statement, Gupta acknowledged that the two sides had agreed on terms initially but said the deal ultimately failed because Modell did not adhere to those terms. Modell’s launch of a competing online platform underscores the unresolved issues surrounding the Modell’s Sporting Goods brand and highlights ongoing rivalry between the former CEO and the current owners.
Omni Retail Enterprises continues to operate Modell’s as an e-commerce business, with its website currently active and offering sporting goods products. Meanwhile, Modell’s new venture aims to capitalize on the Knicks’ recent success and reconnect with longtime customers familiar with the brand’s legacy.