Lawrence Jemal - Bio

Lawrence Jemal is an entrepreneur, businessman and real estate investor. He is the founder and chairman of ICER Brands and ICER Properties and also founded the renowned electronics retail chain Nobody Beats the Wiz in 1976 which they later sold to Cablevision in 1998.

Early Career

Lawrence Jemal was born on December 27, 1945. As a child he was fascinated with history. At the early age of 16, he discovered a passion for entrepreneurship and started his first retail business in Seaside Heights, NJ called, Shopper’s Corner with his brother Douglas. It was a resort store that he operated every summer for six years while going to school at Abraham Lincoln High School.

Upon high school graduation, Lawrence enrolled in CCNY College for two years as a non-matriculated student in Business Administration. 

In 1966 Lawrence moved to Washington, DC where he and his brother Douglas opened Bargaintown DC Inc., where they opened stores in eight different locations.

By 1971, Lawrence moved back to New York and opened up a string of retail stores called Jemal Town Inc. along 3rd Ave in Spanish Harlem, between 104th and 107th streets.

As his retail empire grew, from 1973 Lawrence began to buy and develop buildings in New York and New Jersey. He successfully developed multiple commercial properties in the region and offered retailers the finest interiors, top locations and residential properties that featured the best in modern appliances and comfort.

Marrying For Love, Family & Money

In June of 1974, Lawrence married the love of his life Sherry Lynn. They honeymooned for one month in Europe where they both fell in love with surrounding cities like St. Tropez, Paris, Milan and Florence to name a few of their favorite destinations.

At his newlywed crossroads Lawrence held the retail apparel industry in one hand and the real estate industry in the other whilst his eyes were set on the upcoming electronics gold rush. He launched the legendary New York home entertainment store, Nobody Beats the Wiz on Fulton Street in Brooklyn in 1976.

By 1998 the Jemal had over sixty stores and did $1.26B in sales.They sold the Nobody Beats the Wiz brand that year to Chuck Dolan of Cablevision who continued to run it until 2003.

In 2008 after the Great Recession, Lawrence launched ICER Properties. He  started accumulating and managing residential units, while his son Norman took over  operations and growth of ICER Brands. In 2013 his son Joseph entered the family business and concentrated running and management of the real estate division.

Family & Retirement

Today, Lawrence and his wife Sherry Lynn have five children and 22 grandchildren. Currently, Lawrence’s 30-year-old son, Joseph has taken the reigns of ICER Properties and besides the commercial properties earlier accumulated, he purchased and manages over 400 residential units in multiple buildings in Harlem, Bronx and Brooklyn. Lawrence’s 38-year-old son Norman, who is a graduate of the NYU Stern School of Business, is now the President of ICER Brands.        

Lawrence and his wife divide their time between their four homes in Brooklyn, New York City, Deal NJ and Florida. Their sons are themselves successful entrepreneurs, who run ICER Brands apparel and ICER Properties. Lawrence and Sherry Lynn spend the majority of their time in their Brooklyn home enjoying their children and grandchildren. They love hosting wonderful dinner parties and holiday meals for all children and grandchildren to meet and enjoy each other in an home environment. They often travel to Europe and the Caribbean Islands while sojourning in Florida during the winter and Deal, NJ in the summer.

Lawrence also loves giving back to the community and supports numerous charitable endeavors. In his spare time he enjoys playing golf and is a member of Eagle Oaks Golf and Country Club (located in 20 Shore Oaks Drive, Farmingdale, NJ 07727) and the Turnberry Golf and Country Club (located in 19999 West Country Club Drive, Aventura, FL 33180). Lawrence and his wife love traveling together when they are not with their children and grandchildren. Sherry Lynn enjoys her role as the matriarch of their large family and also likes to play bridge and read a great novel. In their leisure moments, both also can be found on the beach together, relaxing and reading a good book.