Viral TikTok Off-Licence Goes Up For Sale
Angela Ferguson, BBC News, Yorkshire
A shopkeeper who went viral on social media after reportedly selling bottles of a sought‐after energy drink for over £100 each has put up his business for sale.
Fans of Prime Energy drinks flocked from across the country in 2022 to visit the off-licence in Wakefield known as "Wakey Wines", run by 44‐year‐old Azar Nazir, where bottles of the beverage were said to be on sale for as much as £120.
Father-of-eleven Mr Nazir, who has earned over 900,000 followers on TikTok, told the BBC that running the shop had affected his mental health and he felt it was "time to move on". He mentioned that in the future he would focus his efforts on his online business selling sweets.
The shop, which became famous for the "Abdul come closer, Abdul go back" catchphrase, was once visited by people from across the country. At one point after videos featuring his shop went viral on TikTok, about £7,000 worth of stock was stolen in a burglary.
"I had to get security and had to have one person sleeping in the shop at night time," he said.
Mr Nazir also auctioned off a limited edition bottle of the energy drink for £1,200, which he donated to the Wakefield charity Next Generation.
The practice of selling the popular energy drinks for high prices has previously drawn criticism from YouTuber KSI – co-founder of the business venture behind the product.
Mr Nazir cited his poor mental health, including "really bad anxiety" and depression that has affected him for the past seven years, as one of the reasons for selling Wakey Wines. With large numbers of people coming into the shop, he felt anxious and decided to focus on his online confectionery business.
In an interview for the BBC's Pinned podcast, Mr Nazir said he had stopped doing paid appearances at nightclubs due to his mental health. He also mentioned taking up boxing and had plans to compete in his first match in April.
Mr Nazir, who has six daughters and five sons aged between four and 28, also discussed the importance of moving on from his past – having spoken openly about serving time in prison for dealing Class A drugs.
"I made a lot of mistakes in my life but once you have done your time it should be forgotten about," he said. "I did something wrong and I pleaded guilty and did the jail time, came out and turned my life around."
After coming out of prison with virtually nothing, Mr Nazir went on to build his business, employing four people in his new online venture. He expressed gratitude for the support of his family, including his wife Aysha.
The off-licence and convenience store has now been listed for sale at £99,950. Business agents noted that the shop's strong social media presence had generated a loyal customer base.
For further highlights and more detailed coverage, listen to BBC Sounds or catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
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