Local nostalgia fans, unite! Hess's makes return

I miss the deserts at Hess' Patio.

The strawberry pie at the Patio was the best.

The store was like nothing else in the entire Lehigh Valley.

Many good memories.

Matt wrote:

I miss the deserts at Hess' Patio.

Hess was the last good reason to goto Allentown. Now I go to Hamilton and buy nice knock off jeans, and throw back jerseys, I just got these new adidas, with 4 stripes instead of three. The korean girl said they are authentic.

I also got some yellow dunks, to match my xxxxxxl, yellow sweatpants suit. Now when I go to court I will look hot, and judge will be like yo , thats hot gear, the charges are dropped. I just need a brown flat brim hat so I look like a rotten banana

WLVT did a fantastic video documentary on Hess's. Best report I've seen on Hess's. It has it all.

Hollywood On Hamilton (58:15 Minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch...

I worked at Hesses' back in 68-69'. That was when 9th street was bustling with Christmas shoppers. That was when Christmas felt like Christmas to me. I'll never forget walking through the doors, the whiff of perfumed air and recording that always greeted you with - "You'll find the best of everything at Hesses'". As a child, I loved watching "Pip the Mouse" show in the store's front window. I'd stand out in the freezing cold for an hour, just so I could be up front. And who can ever forget Hesses' famous Patio Restaurant. I also remember when I worked in the toy dept., the store had a huge mechanical gorilla displayed, which a couple later purchased for almost a $3000 price tag. Probably my most memorable experience is when I had to go for change on the 5th floor and I ran in to the actor, Jack Palance, who happened to be a guest that day!! My husband will never forget meeting beautiful Sophia Loren at the store. The lines were especially long that day.

I often think back and miss the people and friends I worked with. One of the nicest people I ever worked for was Bill Marine, the Buyer and Supervisor for the toy dept. and his beautiful Japanese wife - Etsko. Bill had a marvelous sense of humor and always made us laugh. I recall some of the managers who once strolled about the store - the late Jerry Golden with his flambouyant style, Mr. Greenburg and the owners - Mr. Mrs. Berman, Rudy - who was in security and a few others.

Oh! I wish I was home to see that! I remember going to the Patio and having my meal brought out on the little tin stove!

I have fond memories of being a child in the 60's and going to Hess's to visit my grandmother who worked in the wig department in the basement right by the Patio. The Patio was great and so was the pizza on the first floor.

Cobra Commander wrote:

I also got some yellow dunks, to match my xxxxxxl, yellow sweatpants suit. Now when I go to court I will look hot, and judge will be like yo , thats hot gear, the charges are dropped. I just need a brown flat brim hat so I look like a rotten banana

ha ha, nice! first laugh of the morning came from your post.

You go down to Hamilton St now and the Christmas aromas are a mix of gunpowder, grape soda, fried plantains and chaffed polyester....

Miss the good ole days...

Rendell should have bailed out Hess's since bailing out dept. stores is the taxpayers responsibility.

When I was a kid, I remember,the Hesses name carried all the way down to Philly.

Just get over it! yawn! yawn! yawn! yawn!

Alright! After my miserable monday morning rant, I will participate and remember watching MTV in the electronics section for a good hr. I saw Duran Duran Hungry Like the Wolf for the first time at Hess'.

I still remember going to to the clesrance sales and standing outside waiting with my mother and grandmother. you wore a skirt and tights and REAL shoes to go shopping. when the doors opened everyone streamed in, but politely, not like today when people virtually kill to get ahead of someone in line on black Friday. The patio was the best, and that strawberry pie, geez, no one will every copy it. the slice on the plate was a foot high!

I wonder why the old Hess' neighborhood changed so much; could it be because of the invasion from the east by 20th century vandals, marauders and thugs?

An amazing store in an amazing time...Max sure knew how to market...the toy department alone was a treat!(Can't say I was really fond of the perfume spray in the entrance doors however !) Miss it all the same.

I loved shopping at Hess's. As a kid if my sisters and I were bored we would walk there. I think when Hess's closed it was the beginning of downtown Allentown changing.

When I was in nursing school I used to love to go downtown and shop. Hess's, of course, and piled high with packages, and down to Leh's and the shops in between. Of course, we'd eat lunch at the patio, splitting a club sandwich because they were so huge, and then ordering Stawberry pie and two plates. No one person could eat a whole piece! And gawking at the models walking around in their fashions.

That really felt like Christmas, carrying packages and being blown by the wind, looking at the lights and sights...not being in a climate controlled mall. Never was there a windier corner than 9th and Hamilton, either!

Those were the days.