Mitchell Modell, the former owner of Modell's Sporting Goods, has closed his new e-commerce website, mitchymos.com, just one week after its launch. The site, which offered T-shirts celebrating the New York Knicks, US soccer, and Philadelphia, was shut down on Wednesday after Modell received a cease-and-desist letter.
The letter was issued by Raj Gupta, the current owner of Modell's through Omni Retail Enterprises, which acquired the brand in 2023. The current ownership accused Modell of trademark infringement, unfair competition, and violating the terms of a non-disclosure agreement.
Modell stated that he "waved the white flag" in his attempt to re-enter the sports retail market with the new venture. The website had featured T-shirts priced at $25, with $5 from each sale designated for cancer research. The site's description proclaimed, "Whether it's the Knicks hoisting the NBA championship trophy, the World Cup final, the Stanley Cup or whatever moment has the world buzzing — we’re on it. Fast."
Modell's Sporting Goods filed for bankruptcy in 2020, leading to the closure of all 140 physical stores. The brand now operates solely as an e-commerce business. Mitchell Modell, whose great-grandfather founded the business in 1889, had previously attempted to buy back the Modell's brand from Gupta in 2024. These negotiations did not progress. Later in 2024, Modell again tried to acquire the brand, and Gupta reportedly agreed to a $1 million price tag plus equity, but talks stalled in June.
Gupta told The Post last week that the deal fell apart because Modell did not adhere to the agreed-upon terms. Gupta declined to comment on the recent developments regarding mitchymos.com.