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.
History
The chain was founded by four brothers, Stephen, Lawrence, Marvin, and Douglas Jemal, in New York City in 1977.[1] 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 many local New York City-area sports franchises, including the Yankees, Knicks, Mets, New Jersey Nets, Rangers, New Jersey Devils and Islanders. It also sponsored teams outside the New York City area such as the Orioles, Flyers, Whalers and Canadiens. In 1996, the company threatened legal action against the Major League Soccer franchise the Kansas City Wiz, who were renamed the Wizards as a response.[2]
In 1998, after having expanded from roughly 20 stores to over 80 stores in less than a year, the chain filed for