The Wiz was the name of a chain of electronic stores in the northeastern United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states, one federal district, and fourteen territories. The country is situated almost entirely in the western hemisphere: its forty-eight contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the capital district, lie in central North America between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico ...United States, primarily in New YorkNew York (IPA: /IPA chart for English|/) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States of America. With 62 counties, it is the country's third most populous state. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania, and shares an international border with the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario. Its five largest cities are New York City (also the largest city in the United States), Buffalo, Rochester, Yonkers, and Syracuse. New York City ...New York and New JerseyNew Jersey (IPA: /IPA chart for English|/) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States of America. The state is named after the island of Jersey in the English Channel. It is bordered on the north by New York, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the southwest by Delaware, and on the west ...New Jersey. The chain, which was founded by Lawrence Jemal in New York CityNew York City (officially The City of New York) is a city located at the southeastern tip of the state of New York. It is the most populous city in the United States of America. New York City is one of the preeminent global economic centers, with its business, financial, legal, and media organizations having worldwide influence. ...New York City in 1977, was later officially named by its primary advertising slogan, Nobody Beats The Wiz. During the early-to-mid 1990s Nobody Beats The Wiz was a major sponsor for all local NY sporting events, including the Knicks, Rangers, Yankees, Mets, Nets, and Devils. They did very heavy TV advertising during all of the sporting events. In 1998Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). The year 1998 was designated the International Year of the Ocean by UNESCO. .1998, CablevisionCablevision Systems Corporation is an American cable television company. It is the 5th largest cable provider in the USA, with most customers residing in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. Cablevision also offers high-speed Internet connections (Optimum Online), as well as digital cable (iO), and VoIP phone service ...Cablevision bought the chain and dropped the slogan, used extensively in the 1980s and 90s. The acquisition came shortly after the chain filed for bankruptcyNo quick definition available.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 chain's peak, it operated more than 75 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 MagazineNo quick definition available. Stereophile Magazine article from February 16No quick definition available. February 16, 2003Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 2003 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. Year 2003 has been designated the: * International Year of Freshwater * European Disability Year * Year of the Sheep in the Chinese Zodiac * Year ...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 P.C. Richard & SonP.C. Richard & Son, also known as simply P.C. Richard, is a chain of stores that sells electronics and appliances. Its stores are located in New York and New Jersey, with the majority of the stores located on Long Island and in the New York City boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn. The company is also known for its trademark whistle jingle created by Soundsmith worker Leer Leary.P.C. Richard & Son and J&RJ&R also had a location at Columbia University, which closed in 2003. J&R has now opened a J&R Express at the bottom level of Macy's Herald Square.http://www1.macys.com/store/ event/index.ognc?action=search&storeId=7 0J&R as the region's only major local electronics stores, with most of the market now dominated by national chains Circuit CityCircuit City is a Fortune 200 company, and the third largest consumer electronics retailer in the United States with over $11 billion USD in sales, behind Best Buy and Wal-Mart. As of March 28, 2007, Circuit City's domestic segment operated 643 Superstores and 12 other locations in the U.S. Circuit City Superstores range in size from 15,000 to 45,000 square feet (1400 to 4000 m²) and offer a large selection of brand-name consumer electronics, ...Circuit City and Best BuyBest Buy Co., Inc. is a Fortune 100 company and the largest specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States and Canada, accounting for 17% of the market.Boyle, Matthew. "Best Buy's Giant Gamble." CNN. March 29, 2006. Retrieved on November 28, 2006. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, Magnolia Audio Video, and Future Shop in Canada, which together operate over 1150 stores in the United States, Canada and China.Chris Serres "Adaptation ...Best Buy. P.C. Richard currently operates TheWiz.com, an online marketplace which uses the old Nobody Beats The Wiz logo.