Modell’s To Close Several Local Stores

Just last month, we told you that Modell's Sporting Goods had announced plans to open a distribution center in Bordentown, NJ.  Now, according to foxbusiness.com, Modell's will be closing 24 stores, including several in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Locally, in our area, we know that this will affect the stores in West Berlin, Philadelphia, and King of Prussia.

News 12 New Jersey reports that the West Berlin store will be closing in this round of store closures. Other stores in New Jersey include the stores in Englishtown, Rockaway, and Woodbridge.

Meanwhile, Modell's stores on Chestnut and Walnut Streets in Philadelphia are expected to close, according to CBS 3. Plus, the store in the King of Prussia Mall will close as well. Additionally, CBS 3 reports that the Lehigh Valley Mall store (in Fullerton, PA).

At this time, we don't believe that any other local stores will be included on this closings list. According to the company's website, they operate one store in Mercer County (Hamilton Marketplace), two in Bucks County (Warminster and Neshaminy Mall in Bensalem), one in Burlington County (Cinnaminson).

Founded in 1889 in New York City, Modell's claims it is "America's oldest, family-owned and operated retailer of sporting goods, athletic footwear, active apparel and fan gear."

In an interview with Fox Business's Maria Bartiromo, Modell's CEO Mitchell Modell said that announcing the closures was one of the most difficult days of his life.

Fox Business says Modell's lost $50 million in sales in 2019.  The company's CEO blamed part of the losses on "lousy" local sports teams.