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The Patio Podcast
The Patio Podcast is a wistful exploration of my hometown's enduring attachment to Hess’s Department Store. In candid conversations with residents, historians, collectors, former shoppers and employees, The Patio hopes to shed light on Allentown, Pennsylvania’s multigenerational interest in one single place.
Does nostalgia this visceral unite a city, or hold it back? How has Max Hess Jr.’s marketing genius endured? What happened to his famous chandeliers? And how good was all that whipped cream pie, really? The Patio Podcast is a new collection of Hess’s memories, meant for the here and now!
The Patio Podcast's original music: Theme created and produced by Dave Meyers with Vocals by Sam Cummings
The Patio Podcast
Episode 4: Ed Hanna, Union & Finch
During the 2022 Christmas season, Union & Finch owners, Ed and Shahnaz Hanna, released t-shirts for sale featuring the classic Hess's logo. The response from Hess's fans was unexpectedly large and the t-shirts sold out immediately. Through a sister-brand, Queen City Apparel, Ed and Shahnaz printed more t-shirts to meet the public demand during the holidays-- a time when Hess's nostalgia is at its peak.
Ed discusses witnessing the power of the Hess's brand; if nostalgia is good or bad for us; and what he believes could be at the heart of Hess's status as a Lehigh Valley icon.
Purchase a t-shirt next time you’re at Union & Finch for happy hour, brunch, or “Burger and a Beer” on Thursday nights. Regular T-shirts are unisex and come in various sizes, or grab a crop top Hess’s tee. Or order online at dynamiteshirtprinting.com/collections/union-finch.
See Kate and Ed discuss Hess's on WFMZ TV Channel 69!
The Patio's original music: Theme created and produced by Dave Meyers, with Vocals by Sam Cummings.
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Visit our website www.hesspatiopodcast.com