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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 10: Donna & Neva, Babes in Toyland (Part 2)
Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs host City Series beginning with Allentown's Hess's!
Saturday, July 1, 2023 @ 6:35pm vs. Rochester Red Wings
THE PATIO PODCAST WILL BE CHEERING ON OUR HOME TEAM
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are excited to announce the introduction of their new annual “City Series,” theme nights beginning this season. The City Series will honor the Lehigh Valley one city at a time starting with the three primary cities that compose the region. Allentown will be spotlighted this season on July 1, paying homage to local past favorite Hess’s Department Store and The Patio Restaurant.
FULL ARTICLE: https://www.milb.com/lehigh-valley/news/ironpigs-announce-start-of-city-series-beginning-with-allentown-hess-s?partnerID=web_article-share
- Shop IronPigs Strawberry Pie merchandise (https://ironpigs.milbstore.com/collections/lehigh-valley-ironpigs-strawberry-pie)
- Buy Field Level Tickets $14, or $16 includes a slice of Strawberry Pie (bit.ly/45HHORK)
- Come celebrate Hess’s Department Store and Allentown, PA | Presented By Red Robin; includes Post-Game Fireworks
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In Part One of Babes in Toyland, we met a former Hess's co-workers, Donna and Neva. Their time at the store overlapped around 1980 or 81, Donna was hired in gift wrapping, but was transferred to the toy department, where she was asked to entertain children and their families live as Strawberry Shortcake.
Neva came to Hess’s as a seasonal replacement, starting as a hostess in The Patio, before becoming a floater— seeing all different floors and departments. As a floater, everyone fell in love with her smiley-personality and she was recruited to be a Hess’s’s model.
**STRAWBERRY PIE ALERT!!**
Neva talks about the time she enjoys spending at The Fairgrounds Hotel in Allentown. She has given her input to Owner & Chef, Dominic Germano, who has his well-thought-out version of Hess's Strawberry Pie on the menu NOW. Try it this summer! www.fairgroundshotel.com
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