Mort Finkelstein, the co-founder of the MC Sports chain, passed away on August 17. He was 93.
Finkelstein’s family started Michigan Clothiers, a men’s clothing store in Grand Rapids, MI, in 1946. Jack and Genevieve Finkelstein founded the store, which their three sons, Ed, Raleigh and Mort, took over to run.
The retailer transitioned to government surplus goods until Mort and his brothers switched their focus from clothing to sports equipment, footwear and apparel, changing the store’s name to MC Sports in 1961.
After the Finklestein brothers grew the company to 21 stores, it became a subsidiary of Pacific Enterprises, a holding company that, during the early nineties, also held interests in Big 5 Sporting Goods in California and Gart Bros. in Colorado. In 1996, former CEO Jim Minton led a young management team in a leveraged buyout, returning ownership to local management and a few investors. MC Sports filed for bankruptcy in 2017 and closed.
Mort Finkelstein remained part of the sporting goods industry as a sales agent and consultant for Riddell, a financial backer for Gear 2000 and the owner of Shoeless Joe’s baseball and softball gloves. He was an influential member of the NBS buying group.
Finkelstein was an avid sportsman who loved golf and enjoyed hunting and skiing. He was also actively involved in the Jewish community. His parents, brother Ed and first wife, Bobbie, preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife Peg, five children, ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. A funeral service was held on August 20 in Grand Rapids, MI.
Image courtesy NSGA
