[2] The business was continued by the original partners until 1874, when Steckel disposed of his interest to George W. Hartzell.

As the firm grew, it expanded with books, toys, jewelry, kitchen crockery, carpets, and men's and children's clothing.

Lawfer worked for Wanamaker in the 1850s and 1860s prior to opening his own store in Allentown.

At the center of the toy display that Christmas was a twenty-four-foot-tall, one-ton figure it called "Santa Claus’ Father."

On December 9, 1905, local newspapers ran the first announcement of Lawfer's live Santa Claus.

As part of the expansion, the store was remodeled into a seven bay wide building with Classical Revival style influences.

It featured architectural terra cotta panels and richly detailed bronze display window surrounds.

In February 1977, Vollmer sold his interest to Allentown clothier Sigmund Levin for $1 and other considerations.

A month later, Levin filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection from creditors while the company reorganized.

Its Allentown flagship and Whitehall Mall stores lasted through the Christmas shopping season of 1977.

However, Zollinger-Harned filed for complete bankruptcy on January 30, 1978, and closed its doors for the last time.

Renovations included a glass-arched entrance from a pedestrian plaza between Hamilton and Court streets leading to a "grapefruit-domed" lobby with a decor of antique brass, mirrors, greenery and wing-backed chairs.