Jimmy Jazz said its founder Joseph Khezrie has passed away at the age of 90.
On its Facebook account, the New York-based urban chain wrote, “Our founder, Joseph Khezrie, was a deeply loyal, respectful and hard-working man. We aspire to continue his legacy and make Jimmy Jazz the best it can be. Rest in peace.”
In a media statement, James Khezrie, the CEO of Jimmy Jazz, and his son, wrote, “We regret to inform you of the passing of our founder and pillar, Joseph Khezrie. My father Joseph came to America in 1960 because of the freedom and opportunities afforded by the United States. His love for this country knew no bounds. In his early years, he saw an advertisement while commuting that stuck with him for life: ‘It’s nice to be important but it’s more important to be nice.’ Through hard work and perseverance, he managed to start E and J Lawrence, the parent company of Jimmy Jazz. He was deeply loyal and viewed every person as part of his family. He instilled in us the core values of loyalty, hard work, perseverance, integrity, and respect, to make this company a success. We aspire to continue his legacy and make Jimmy Jazz both the best it can be and propel it to greater success in the future.”
Jimmy Jazz and subsidiaries have over 170 stores in the U.S., including over 30 in the New York Metro area.
Photo courtesy Jimmy Jazz
