Mitch Modell, the man originally behind the iconic Modell's Sporting Goods brand, is holding a press conference in Manhattan as he tries to bring the shuttered business back to life. The event is set to put a spotlight on one of the most recognizable names in New York sporting goods retail.
According to the plans laid out ahead of the event, Modell is expected to use the press conference to discuss how he intends to revive the brand, laying out his vision for a comeback for a chain that had long been a fixture for shoppers across the region.
Modell's was for decades a familiar destination for sports fans and athletes stocking up on gear, before the business shut its doors. Its closure left a gap in the market and a well-known name sitting idle, and Modell has been working to change that.
His push to revive it has not been simple. Modell had previously attempted to relaunch the name online, timing the effort to a championship run, an attempt to tap into the excitement and nostalgia around the brand at a moment when fans were paying attention.
That online relaunch quickly ran into trouble. Modell was forced to shut the website down after the current owner of the brand sent a cease-and-desist letter, a sign of the legal complications that come with a name he no longer fully controls.
Rather than abandon the effort, Modell responded by launching a different site under a new URL, keeping his comeback bid alive even as the dispute over the brand simmered in the background. The maneuvering set the stage for the more public push now unfolding at the press conference.
The central question hanging over the announcement is whether any Modell's comeback can last, given the drama surrounding who owns the rights to the brand. With the current owner already having pushed back once, Modell's plans in Manhattan will be watched closely by those wondering if the revival can survive the fight over the name.