Gimbel Brothers, commonly known as Gimbels, was an American department store corporation that operated from 1842 until 1987. The company was founded by Adam Gimbel who, in 1842, opened his first general store in Vincennes, Indiana. In 1887, the company moved its operations to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, establishing the first Gimbel Brothers Department Store. It became a chain in 1894 when it opened a second, larger location in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which also served as its headquarters for several years. At the urging of future company president Bernard Gimbel, grandson of the founder, the co
Gimbel Brothers, commonly known as Gimbels, was an American department store corporation that operated from 1842 until 1987. The company was founded by Adam Gimbel who, in 1842, opened his first general store in Vincennes, Indiana. In 1887, the company moved its operations to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, establishing the first Gimbel Brothers Department Store. It became a chain in 1894 when it opened a second, larger location in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which also served as its headquarters for several years. At the urging of future company president Bernard Gimbel, grandson of the founder, the company expanded to New York City in 1910.
Gimbels established the nation's first department store Thanksgiving parade, the Gimbels Thanksgiving Day Parade, which debuted in Philadelphia in 1920. The company was also a chief rival of Macy's with their feud popularized in American culture. By 1930, Gimbels operated 20 locations and was the largest department store chain in the world by sales revenue. The company expanded to a peak of 53 stores by 1965. In 1973, Gimbels was acquired by Brown & Williamson, which later formed the BATUS retail group to manage its retail holdings. BATUS eventually decided to dissolve the Gimbels brand and, in 1987, closed the remaining 35 locations in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Connecticut.
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