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The Retail Connection
Mitchell Modell's family office investing in retail-anchored real estate across the Northeast following the liquidation of Modell's Sporting Goods.
The Retail Connection
Mitchell Modell established The Retail Connection after the Chapter 11 filing and subsequent liquidation of Modell's Sporting Goods in 2020, the 130-year-old family chain he had led as CEO since 1996. While the retail operation collapsed under pandemic-era pressure and pre-existing debt, the Modell family had accumulated substantial commercial real estate over decades, often owning the ground beneath its own stores and adjacent properties. The family office formalized these holdings, separating the property portfolio from the failed operating business. The office concentrates on retail-anchored real estate across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, with a portfolio that includes single-tenant net-leased properties, multi-tenant shopping centers, and urban street-retail assets. Its strategy leverages the Modell family's six-generation understanding of retail site selection, tenant credit risk, and lease structuring. Rather than developing ground-up, the office targets underperforming or mismanaged retail properties where operational repositioning — not just financial engineering — can lift net operating income. The geographic footprint centers on New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. The Modell family's transition from retailer to landlord represents a rare second act. Mitchell Modell, who grew the chain to over 150 locations before its collapse, now operates as a principal investor through the family office structure. The office maintains a lean team and is believed to co-invest selectively with other family offices on larger acquisitions. No philanthropic foundation or adjacent investment vehicle has been publicly linked to the entity. The firm's architecture is defined by its origin in operational distress. Unlike family offices formed at the peak of a liquidity event, The Retail Connection was shaped by a public corporate failure, giving it a defensive, asset-heavy posture and an unusually specialized competence: the ability to underwrite retail real estate risk from the tenant's side of the negotiating table.
General information
Firm type
Single Family Office
Year founded
—
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Westport
Corporate office
Westport, CT, United States
Principals
Mitchell Modell
Principal
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at The Retail Connection?
Mitchell Modell, the former CEO of Modell's Sporting Goods, is the principal behind The Retail Connection. He led the sporting goods chain for over two decades before its 2020 liquidation. His investment decisions are informed by six generations of family retail experience in the Northeast.
How did the wealth behind The Retail Connection originate?
The wealth stems from the Modell family's 130-year ownership of Modell's Sporting Goods, founded in 1889. Though the retail chain filed for bankruptcy and liquidated in 2020, the family retained substantial real estate assets accumulated over decades of store ownership, forming the foundation of the family office.
What type of real estate does The Retail Connection acquire?
The office targets retail-anchored properties including single-tenant net-leased assets, multi-tenant shopping centers, and urban street-retail locations. Its focus is on underperforming or mismanaged properties in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic where operational repositioning can drive value.
Did Mitchell Modell have a real estate background before forming the family office?
While his public profile was as a retailer, Modell's experience included decades of site selection, lease negotiation, and property management for over 150 store locations. The family often owned the real estate under its stores, giving Modell direct experience as both tenant and landlord.
Does The Retail Connection invest outside of real estate?
The office's primary focus is retail-anchored real estate. There is no public record of direct investments in venture capital, private equity, or operating businesses outside of the property sector. Its mandate appears tightly concentrated on the asset class its principal knows best.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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