The Wiz (store)

Nobody Beats the Wiz

The 1998-2003 Wiz logo.
Former type	Electronics
Industry	Retail
Founded	1977 2004 (online retailer owned by P.C. Richard)
Founders	Douglas Jemal Lawrence Jemal Marvin Jemal Stephan Jemal
Defunct	2003 (retail stores only)
Headquarters	Carteret, New Jersey
Products	Computers, televisions, VCRs, and DVD players
Parent	Cablevision (electronics chain) P.C. Richard & Son (online retailer)
Website	www.thewiz.com

The Wiz, also known at times as Nobody Beats the Wiz, was a chain of electronic stores in the northeastern United States, located primarily in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Some locations were in Canada as well.

The chain was founded by four brothers, Douglas, Lawrence, Marvin, and Stephan Jemal, in New York City in 1977. Later, it officially changed its name to its well-known advertising slogan, "Nobody Beats The Wiz". During the early-to-mid 1990s "Nobody Beats The Wiz" was a major sponsor for all local NY sports franchises, including the Yankees, Knicks, Mets, New Jersey Nets, Rangers, New Jersey Devils and Islanders, and had a significant television advertising presence during local sports events. It also sponsored teams outside the NY area such as the Flyers and Canadiens.

In 1998, after having expanded significantly, the chain filed for bankruptcy and was purchased by Cablevision for $80 million. Cablevision eventually dropped the "Nobody Beats the Wiz" slogan. At its peak, the firm's revenues were $1.4 billion, with 2000 employees, operating 94 stores in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, and Massachusetts. It also operated music-only stores in Maryland and the Washington, D.C. area.

The chain closed permanently in 2003. A Cablevision press release from February 16, 2003 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 chain closed, one of its founders, Marvin 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.