Business

Modell’s CEO impersonated Dick’s exec in spy scheme: suit

Mitch Modell stands accused of being a sneaky sneaker salesman.

The CEO of the Big Apple-based Modell’s chain has been sued by big-box rival Dick’s Sporting Goods, which charges that Modell impersonated a Dick’s exec earlier this month as he spied on a store in Princeton, NJ.

Modell, who once appeared on the reality-TV show “Undercover Boss,” claimed to be a Dick’s senior vice president as he persuaded employees to give him access to the backroom of the store and grilled them about the business, the suit alleges.

“Dick’s Sporting Goods takes seriously the protection of its confidential and proprietary information,” the retailer said in a statement, declining further comment.

In 2012, Modell shaved his head and wore a walrus mustache for his appearance on “Undercover Boss,” posing as “Joey Glick,” a warehouse worker at one of his own company’s facilities.

Modell said it was “not prepared to offer any comment at this time.”

A spokesman for Modell’s didn’t immediately respond for comment on Friday.

Modell told store workers he was scheduled to meet with Dick’s CEO Ed Stack at the store, and appeared to be particularly interested in a “ship from store” program that delivers goods to customers’ homes from nearby locations, the suit said.

Accusing Modell of civil conspiracy and trespassing, Dick’s is seeking a judge’s order to bar him and his workers from posing as employees and entering nonpublic areas of Dick’s stores.

Filed Feb. 20 in Mercer County Court in NJ, the suit was first reported Friday by the Bergen Record.