'Jeopardy!' gives nod to Fountains of Wayne, iconic seller of stone statues

WAYNE — It shut down more than 15 years ago, but Fountains of Wayne is still being noticed for contributions to pop culture.

The landmark emporium on Route 46 west, which specialized in Christmas décor, lawn ornaments and patio furniture, was a clue on an episode of “Jeopardy!” this week as the trivia show contestants were quizzed on the band that assumed the same name as the store.

The episode aired Monday night on the fourth anniversary of the COVID-related death of bassist Adam Schlesinger, 52, who co-founded the eponymous rock group.

Colby Burnett, a Chicago native, responded correctly to the $1,600 clue that was revealed in the second round of the game.

“A statuary store on Route 46 in New Jersey unwittingly bestowed its name on this power pop group,” the clue said.

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Burnett swiftly buzzed in with the answer, eliciting a “well done” from host Ken Jennings.

The game was eventually won by Sam Buttrey of Pacific Grove, California, who qualified for a position in the semifinals of the inaugural “Jeopardy!” Invitational Tournament.

It was not the first time that the once-eminent store, which closed in March 2009, found a spot on TV.

Tony Soprano shopped there.

But the Grammy-nominated band is what gave Fountains of Wayne a household name beyond this part of the country.

In May 2003, it released a true earworm with “Stacy’s Mom.” It was the group’s biggest hit in the U.S., peaking at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 — the standard record chart for the music industry. The band broke up a decade later.

Schlesinger, a Montclair native, told The Record in June 1999 that when choosing a name for the group, he and bandmate Chris Collingwood opted for Fountains of Wayne because they “needed something quickly” and — well, it “was always there.”

“It gives us a connection to some place — a sense of community,” he said.

As they rose in fame, teenagers began to swarm the store to hunt for souvenirs — even if it meant asking for the owner’s business card.

Its inventory was liquidated in a court-ordered public auction weeks after it closed. The property, just east of Galesi Drive, is now occupied by an 18,613-square-foot retail building with multiple tenants.

Philip DeVencentis is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: devencentis@northjersey.com

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: 'Jeopardy!' cites Fountains of Wayne store NJ in clue on band name