I’d say there are relatively few New Yorkers who haven’t picked up an TV set or an air conditioner at P.C. Richard, or at least knows a friend who has. The company was founded as a hardware store in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn in 1909 by an immigrant from Holland, Pieter Christian Richard. It was his son, Alfred J. Richard (A.J.) who built it into a multimillion dollar franchise that has outlasted competitors such as Stevens and The Wiz. In the 1980s and 1990s,, A.J. Richard’s smiling mug was recognizable in all the company’s print ads. He first worked for his father in 1923 at age 14, and he continued as chairman of the board until his death in 2004.
This painted ad, at Liberty Avenue and 96th Street in Ozone Park, probably marks the location of one of the company’s smaller outlets, as most Richard stores now occupy a large footprint. Amazingly, it’s faded just a little from when I first saw it here back in 1999; it’s likely a few decades older.
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6/15/21
7 comments
Kevin, I believe the PC Richard chain actually started In Ozone Park somewhere. Maybe this is it
Although consumer electronics retailers normally have the lifespan of unrefrigerated fish in a summer heat wave, P.C. Richard has diversified into things such as indoor and outdoor furniture, large appliances, mattresses, outdoor power equipment, and toys. That’s probably why they’ve survived so long.
I’ve never been in one because they use commissioned salespeople, and I do not like to deal with that.
Is that the company that incessantly ran ads on TV with a “and if you order now,you’ll get a Shetland Lewyt vacuum cleaner
or a 9×12 rug,so hurry…” or am I thinking of someone else?
Yes, i believe that was the original store on N/S Liberty Ave and 96 ST, I shopped in there a few times in the 60’s and 70’s. Newmark and Lewis was on Crossbay and Liberty Ave where PC is now. Bought my first VCR there, an NEC HiFi stereo 750.00 1985 ish…
Growing up in South Ozone Park in the 70’s and 80’s, I remember
there was PC Richards around that location on Liberty Ave. It took up maybe four storefronts and was set back from the sidewalk. Also a big deal to get appliances, window AC units and radios from them.
My memory was off, just looked at Google maps and found the old PC Richards between 113th and 112th street on Liberty Ave. It appears to be have been divided into multiple stores now.
I got married in 1977. My Grandmother bought our first refrigerator as a wedding gift from PC Richard which was then on Liberty ave down the street form the Crossbay movie theater.