Modell’s Has Taken Over the Former Boylston Street City Sports

UPDATED, March 15, 1:15 p.m.: Modell’s will open its 480 Boylston St. location at 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 17. The first 200 customers will win free t-shirts and Modell’s gift cards, and the grand opening will be attended by VIPs including Shaquille O’Neal. In addition, 10 percent of sales made on Friday, March 18 will go to the Martin Richard Foundation.

Just three months after City Sports announced it would close all 26 of its stores, Modell’s has taken over the chain’s former Boylston Street storefront.

Modell’s announced shortly after City Sports filed for bankruptcy and shut down operations late last year that it would move into the Back Bay space. A little more than a month after that announcement, the New York-based chain’s branding has officially replaced the iconic City Sports logo. The shop marks the first Modell’s location in downtown Boston, and the eighth in Massachusetts.

Previous reports have said the store will open in March. A recent Craiglist post also says the chain has begun hiring for the new location.

Though many Bostonians were sad to see a local institution like City Sports go, at least they can take comfort in the continued availability of sneakers and spandex.

well would ya look at that – @citysports is now @Modells cc @universalhub pic.twitter.com/njZVWZ8nfS

— Sara (@SaraASR) February 10, 2016