Department Store Founder. Ellis Gimbel was widely known in the department store business world, and well known as a philanthropist in Philadelphia.His father, Adam Gimbel, came to the U. S. from Bavaria in 1835. In 1842 he opened a small store in Vincennes. Ellis shared in the opening of a store in Milwaukee in 1887, the first big Gimbel venture. In 1894, he and his brothers opened the Philadelphia store and in 1910 went into the department store business in New York City. With six brothers and his father, he founded a chain of stores in Philadelphia, New York, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Detroit. Beverly Hills, and Miami, Fla. Starting in 1936, Ellis, the last surviving brother, had served as chairman of the board of Gimbel Brothers, Inc. He was credited with being among the first department store owners lo adopt such innovations as store escalators, motor-driven trucks for delivery and a testing bureau tor merchandise. He was well known for his philanthropies, devoting much of his time and wealth to the blind and underprivileged. Thousands of Philadelphia children were taken to the circus by Gimbel in his later years, Thanksgiving Day parades sponsored by Gimbel were Philadelphia fixtures. He and his son, Ellis A., Jr., were co-founders of Philadelphia radio station WIP, later the Pennsylvania Broadcasting Co.

Department Store Founder. Ellis Gimbel was widely known in the department store business world, and well known as a philanthropist in Philadelphia.His father, Adam Gimbel, came to the U. S. from Bavaria in 1835. In 1842 he opened a small store in Vincennes. Ellis shared in the opening of a store in Milwaukee in 1887, the first big Gimbel venture. In 1894, he and his brothers opened the Philadelphia store and in 1910 went into the department store business in New York City. With six brothers and his father, he founded a chain of stores in Philadelphia, New York, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Detroit. Beverly Hills, and Miami, Fla. Starting in 1936, Ellis, the last surviving brother, had served as chairman of the board of Gimbel Brothers, Inc. He was credited with being among the first department store owners lo adopt such innovations as store escalators, motor-driven trucks for delivery and a testing bureau tor merchandise. He was well known for his philanthropies, devoting much of his time and wealth to the blind and underprivileged. Thousands of Philadelphia children were taken to the circus by Gimbel in his later years, Thanksgiving Day parades sponsored by Gimbel were Philadelphia fixtures. He and his son, Ellis A., Jr., were co-founders of Philadelphia radio station WIP, later the Pennsylvania Broadcasting Co.

Bio by: Pete Mohney