Gimbel vs. Gimbel

Jack Gimbel, 46, has always been proud of his family name. So almost ten years ago, when he decided to open a gift shop in Maine's Boothbay Harbor, he appropriately christened it Gimbel & Sons Country Store. Last September, though, he received a letter from Gimbel Bros. Inc., the huge New York-based department store chain, asking him to change the sign on his store or face legal action. When Gimbel refused, Gimbel Bros, store sued on the grounds that by using his family name, Jack Gimbel had "irreparably damaged" the 38-store chain and was responsible for the "confusion, mistake and deception of the general public."

The suit has now been settled with an agreement that Jack Gimbel can keep the family name on the store as long as he agrees to put a disclaimer on his sign and advertising saying that he is not associated with Gimbels Department Stores. The world seems big enough for two Gimbels.

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