The Department Store That Was Allentown Allentown history, Pennsylvania department stores, lost Pennsylvania places, downtown Allentown, Pennsylvania nostalgia #Pennsylvania #Allentown #PAProud #LostPlaces #PALife Hess’s wasn’t just a department store, it was the heart of downtown Allentown. From flower shows and holiday window displays to restaurants and fashion shows, this is the story of how one Pennsylvania institution built a city, and how its loss changed everything.