Entrepreneur. He was the son of the German Jewish immigrant peddler, Adam Gimbel, the founder of original Gimbel's Department Stores, which would become part of the dynasty of American retail stores moving into the 20th century. The first store, which was basically a pioneering trading post, was not a huge store but a beginning. After his father initially opened the first Gimbel's Department Store, his two oldest brother Jacob and Isaac established a store in Danville, Illinois in the 1880s, which was unprofitable. At that point, the store was relocated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin as Gimbel Brothers. In 1894 a second department store opened in Philadelphia, which was managed by him and his brother Ellis. By 1910, Gimbel's Department Store was in New York City on Herald Square, and the two older stores merged into this new much bigger store. In 1923 the Gimbel brothers purchased, from a cousin, the department store Saks and Company, which eventually became the upscale retail store, Saks Fifth Avenue. By 1963 the $61.6 million business had 63 stores. The family had a generous dedication to philanthropy. The store remained in the family's management until 1973, and with a remaining 36 stores, the last Gimbel's store closed its doors in 1987. Born one of fourteen children of Adam and Fridolyn Gimbel, eleven of whom lived to adulthood, he had a large extended family with his father's siblings and their families immigrating to the United States. Charles Gimbel was active in the work of the Federation of Jewish Charities of Philadelphia as a board member. He was also a director of the Jewish Hospital and an executive of the United Campaign. He suddenly died of a cerebral hemorrhage while at his summer home. He was married and had a son, a daughter and several grandchildren. In the settlement of his estate, he gave $10,000 to the Federation of Jewish Charities and thousands of dollars to his domestic employees.
Entrepreneur. He was the son of the German Jewish immigrant peddler, Adam Gimbel, the founder of original Gimbel's Department Stores, which would become part of the dynasty of American retail stores moving into the 20th century. The first store, which was basically a pioneering trading post, was not a huge store but a beginning. After his father initially opened the first Gimbel's Department Store, his two oldest brother Jacob and Isaac established a store in Danville, Illinois in the 1880s, which was unprofitable. At that point, the store was relocated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin as Gimbel Brothers. In 1894 a second department store opened in Philadelphia, which was managed by him and his brother Ellis. By 1910, Gimbel's Department Store was in New York City on Herald Square, and the two older stores merged into this new much bigger store. In 1923 the Gimbel brothers purchased, from a cousin, the department store Saks and Company, which eventually became the upscale retail store, Saks Fifth Avenue. By 1963 the $61.6 million business had 63 stores. The family had a generous dedication to philanthropy. The store remained in the family's management until 1973, and with a remaining 36 stores, the last Gimbel's store closed its doors in 1987. Born one of fourteen children of Adam and Fridolyn Gimbel, eleven of whom lived to adulthood, he had a large extended family with his father's siblings and their families immigrating to the United States. Charles Gimbel was active in the work of the Federation of Jewish Charities of Philadelphia as a board member. He was also a director of the Jewish Hospital and an executive of the United Campaign. He suddenly died of a cerebral hemorrhage while at his summer home. He was married and had a son, a daughter and several grandchildren. In the settlement of his estate, he gave $10,000 to the Federation of Jewish Charities and thousands of dollars to his domestic employees.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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