Hess's

1897-1968


The Hess Brothers department store was opened February 19, 1897 by brothers Charles Hess and Max Hess, Sr. in Allentown, Pennsylvania. This first Hess's location would grow to encompass nearly an entire city block and was a dramatic success that included a restaurant, fashion shows, and elaborate Christmas displays. After the deaths of the Hess brothers, Max Hess, Jr. would oversee the company's continued success.

1968-1994






In 1968, Max Hess, Jr. sold the company to a local trucking businessman named Philip Berman for $16 million. Max Hess, Jr. died only a few months later. Under Berman, the company was renamed to Hess's and began to expand. The company rose to 17 stores predominantly in eastern and central Pennsylvania during the 11 years that Berman owned the company. In 1979, Crown American purchased the company and expanded aggressively, buying out competing department stores in the upper south and western Pennsylvania. It had reached 76 stores by its height in 1990. The economic recession of the late 1980's hit the company hard after it had taken on much debt buying out competitors, and the company had to sell 25 of its stores to Dillard's in 1992 and 18 more to Proffitt's in 1993. The remaining 30 Hess's locations, primarily in Pennsylvania, would be sold off in 1994. May Department Stores bought 10 and converted them to Kaufmann's, and the final 20, including the flagship original Hess's store in Allentown, were sold to The Bon-Ton. The original Hess's store was no longer profitable and was only operated by The Bon-Ton for one year. It was later acquired by the city of Allentown and demolished in 2000, ending the Hess's legacy.