Gimbles on Herald Square

Here's myself in February 1972, at the very spot... the passage from the 33rd Street Path Station to Gimbels' Department Store. Photo shot by Damazio Nazare. 

Once upon a time, there was a Gimbel’s across from Macy’s in Herald Square. And, underneath Gimbel’s, a “Gimbel’s Passageway” which connected the 34th and 6th Avenue Herald Square BMT-IND subway station (currently served by the B,D,F,V and N,Q,R,W), with the PATH train, IRT Penn Station Subway (1, 2, 3 trains at 7th Avenue), IND Penn Station subway (A, C, E at 8th Avenue), along with Amtrak, LIRR and NJ Transit all without going above ground (anyone who has had to make the connection from the 6th Avenue/Broadway Line or PATH to Penn Station can relate to the futility of having to go upstairs, walk west on 34th Street, only to have to go back down stairs).

As you know, Macy’s won the day, Gimbel’s shut their NY store in 1986 (it became the Manhattan Mall, with itself is undergoing many renovations) and the passageway was shut due to “security issues”.

But a new plan for 15 Penn Plaza, a commercial tower set to replace the Hotel Pennsylvania may actually have the tunnel reopening again, and another piece of forgotten NY may re-emerge from the doldrums. Here’s for reopening the passage and being able to retell the story of some iconic pieces of NYC history.
(via Gothamist, NY Times, Wikipedia, and my noggin)

see this wonderful site about the tunnels:  http://www.erictb.info/33passage.html

Macy's on the corner of 34th Street & Broadway; El on the 6th Avenue in July 1936.

34th Street & Broadway on the same day in July 1936.  

Macy's Dept Store on West 34th Street & Broadway in Herald Square in September 1942. 

 Herald Square in the 1950s. 

Looking north from Greeley Square with the Gimbles and Saks bldgs on the left, 1965.

In 1967, discount retailer Korvette's moved into the Saks bldg. They 'modernized' the façade, as seen below. Founded in 1947 by Eugene Ferkauf in a small store on 5th Ave and W 47th St. Korvette's expanded quickly, with 2,684 stores in operation by the mid-1960s. 

same view as above in 1969. read more about this place at: http://nyccirca.blogspot.com.br/2013/05/saks-and-gimbels-on-sixth.html

Korvette Herald Square concept; it finally opened in 1967, slightly different...

through the tunnels... 

 Gimbels seen from the air.

32nd Street & 6th Ave. on 8th September 1980.

Saks building at W 33rd St with its competitor Macy's one block north at W 34th St. 1902.

Herald Square in 1920; Macy's Store on the left and McAlpin Hotel on the right... 

This photo's negative has been developed the wrong way... Macy's Dept Store moved to the right of the picture and the McAlpin Hotel went to the left. 

Herald Square - Broadway, West 34th Street towards James Gordon Memorial; Hotel McAlpin and Crawford's on the right and Greenwich Savings Bank on the far left. 

Gimbels on 24th January 1910 - 6th Ave. & 32nd St. with Penn Station in the background.