What is "gimbels"

Gimbel Brothers (Gimbels) was an American department store corporation from 1887 until 1987. The company is known for creating the Gimbels Thanksgiving Day Parade, the oldest parade in the country. Gimbels was also once the largest department store chain in the country. By the time it closed in 1987, Gimbels had 36 stores throughout the United States.Regarding no apostrophe in the store's name:

• Period newspaper ads:
  "Gasoline Alley Antiques"
• Photos of the store's sign:
  The New York Times
  Newsday
• The New York Times correction
• Gimbels Flyer toy train
• Headline and story Appleton (Wisconsin) Post-Crescent, (November 18, 1968)