The Wiz (store)
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- For the Broadway musical and film, see The Wiz.
| The Wiz | |
 |
|
| Type | Electronics |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1977 |
| Headquarters | New York City, New York |
| Industry | Retail |
| Products | Computers, televisions, VCRs, and DVD players |
| Website | http://www.thewiz.com |
The Wiz was the name of a chain of electronic stores in the northeastern United States, primarily in New York and New Jersey. The chain, which was founded by Lawrence Jemal in New York City 1977, was sometimes referred to by its primary advertising slogan, Nobody Beats The Wiz. In 1998, Cablevision bought the chain and dropped the slogan, used extensively in the 1980s and 90s. The acquisition came shortly after the chain filed for bankruptcy. Founder Lawrence Jemal was intensely private and financial performance data was a closely guarded secret until the company was purchased by Cablevision. The Wiz was notorious for paying vendors very slowly, and in its later years found it very difficult to secure products on credit. At the chains peak, it operated more than 50 stores in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts. At one time, it also operated music-only stores in Maryland and the Washington, D.C. area.
The chain closed permanently in 2003. According to a Stereophile Magazine article from February 16, 2003, a Cablevision press release stated: "Continuing to operate the stores is no longer a viable option for Cablevision as business conditions at the retailer eroded due to a weakened retail economy and other factors." Once The Wiz closed, Lawrence Jemal opened a new electronics chain, The Zone, in a number of former Wiz locations. The new chain, which heavily mentioned that it was from the founder of The Wiz, went out of business less than two years later.
The closing of The Wiz leaves former competitor P.C. Richard & Son as the region's only major local electronics store, with most of the market now dominated by national chains Circuit City and Best Buy. P.C. Richard currently operates TheWiz.com, an online marketplace which uses the old Nobody Beats The Wiz logo.
[edit] Pop culture references
The Wiz has also been featured as a pop culture reference, especially in the New York City area. The phrase Nobody Beats The Wiz became popular when Joe Namath started doing commercials for the store. Other sports legends from New York that they would use in commercials included Phil Simms, Boomer Esiason and Patrick Ewing.
- In an episode of the 1990s sitcom Seinfeld, Elaine becomes unknowingly infatuated with "The Wiz," a man she soon realizes was the fictional pitchman for The Wiz chain. (The retailer never employed the use of such a character.)
- The store was depicted in the 2005 film version of RENT. The main characters huddle around a storefront window to watch the Times Square Ball drop on New Year's Day.
- The chain's jingle was the inspiration for rapper Biz Markie's hit song, Nobody Beats the Biz, off his 1988 release, Goin' Off.
- "Nobody Beats the Wiz" was also used by ESPN anchor Tony Reali during the May 5th 2006 episode of "Around the Horn." The term was in reference to the NBA's Washington Wizards, who were going to face the Cleveland Cavaliers in a pivotal Game 6 that night.
- The Wiz was mentioned in the 1988 hit It Takes Two by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock (the lyrics: "... On stage or on record, Go to The Wiz and select it ...").
- The Kansas City Wiz Major League Soccer team was asked by The Wiz to change their name following their inaugural 1996 season. The team is now known as the Kansas City Wizards. [citation needed]
