Benedict Gimbel Sr.

Biography

Benedict Gimbel Sr. was a merchant and retailer whose vision helped shape the retail life of the city, overseeing the growth of mercantile stores that made a wide variety of goods available to families at fair value. He studied his customers' needs and trained associates to meet them with courtesy, building trust that went beyond any single sale.

He also encouraged philanthropy and valued the arts, and though he now rests at Mount Sinai Cemetery, the enterprise he guided remains a touchstone of the city's commercial heart.