Entrepreneur. Ellis Gimbel was widely-known in the department store business world, and well-known as a philanthropist in Philadelphia. His father, Adam Gimbel, was a German-Jewish peddler, who immigrated to the United States in 1835, eventually settling in Illinois. In 1842 his father opened a small store in Vincennes, which was the beginning to a retail dynasty. Two of his older brothers opened 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, he and his brother Charles opened with much success the Philadelphia store. By 1910, Gimbel's Department Store was in New York City on Herald Square, and the two older stores merged into this new much larger store. In 1923 Gimbel brothers purchased, from a cousin, the department store of Saks and Company, which eventually became the upscale retail store, Saks Fifth Avenue. With six brothers and his father, he founded a chain of stores in Philadelphia, New York, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Detroit, Beverly Hills, and Miami. Starting in 1936, he was the last surviving brother, serving as chairman of the board of Gimbel Brothers, Incorporation. By 1963 the $61.6-million-worth business had 63 stores. He was credited with being among the first department store owners to adopt such innovations as store escalators, motor-driven trucks for delivery and a testing bureau tor merchandise. 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. 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, and Thanksgiving Day parades sponsored by Gimbel were Philadelphia fixtures. 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. He and his son, Ellis A., Jr., were co-founders of Philadelphia radio station WIP, later the Pennsylvania Broadcasting Company.

Entrepreneur. Ellis Gimbel was widely-known in the department store business world, and well-known as a philanthropist in Philadelphia. His father, Adam Gimbel, was a German-Jewish peddler, who immigrated to the United States in 1835, eventually settling in Illinois. In 1842 his father opened a small store in Vincennes, which was the beginning to a retail dynasty. Two of his older brothers opened 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, he and his brother Charles opened with much success the Philadelphia store. By 1910, Gimbel's Department Store was in New York City on Herald Square, and the two older stores merged into this new much larger store. In 1923 Gimbel brothers purchased, from a cousin, the department store of Saks and Company, which eventually became the upscale retail store, Saks Fifth Avenue. With six brothers and his father, he founded a chain of stores in Philadelphia, New York, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Detroit, Beverly Hills, and Miami. Starting in 1936, he was the last surviving brother, serving as chairman of the board of Gimbel Brothers, Incorporation. By 1963 the $61.6-million-worth business had 63 stores. He was credited with being among the first department store owners to adopt such innovations as store escalators, motor-driven trucks for delivery and a testing bureau tor merchandise. 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. 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, and Thanksgiving Day parades sponsored by Gimbel were Philadelphia fixtures. 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. He and his son, Ellis A., Jr., were co-founders of Philadelphia radio station WIP, later the Pennsylvania Broadcasting Company.

Bio by: Pete Mohney