Dunham's Department Store - Wellsboro

Wellsboro is located on the ancestral homelands of the peoples of the Six Nations of the Iroquis Confederacy.

white concrete exterior of a building with the name "Dunham" carved into blocks

Date of Visit: December 5, 2025

Pennsylvania has a long history of department stores. At one time, every city had a department store standing tall in the center of the city.

Those days have passed, and few downtown department stores remain. Reading-based Boscov’s is still going with more than 50 locations, mostly mall anchors, across the northeast. But giants like Gimble’s and Wanamaker’s are gone – the latter’s organ attracting crowds long after the namesake store closed.

But in Wellsboro, the independent department store lives on thanks to Dunham’s.

sepia tone photogrpah of a clean shaven man wearing a business suit from the early 1900s with a signature underneath that reads "Roy J. Dunham"

Roy Dunham started a grocery store in 1905. As the store added new products, it evolved into a true department store. Today, it spans three storefronts on Main Street plus two side buildings – one for the furniture store and one for Dunham’s Do-It Center, the hardware branch of the business.

a rack of men's suit coats in the foreground with boxes of shoes on stacks in the background at Dunham's Department Store in Wellsboro, PA

The entrance from the parking lot brings you into the menswear and shoe departments. The brands are mostly familiar – and the menswear is filled with both workwear and suits (and separates). On our trips, I’ve bought hoodies and jackets while we got a pair of snowboots for eight-year-old Jakob on our last visit.

antique cash register on a counter in Dunhamn's Department Store in Wellsboro, PA

This part of the building is also home to Cafe 1905. Named for the year the Dunham’s business enterprise was founded, the small coffee shop serves Starbucks drinks and small pastries.

angel ornaments on a table next to some white ceramic trees at Dunham's Department Store in Wellsboro, PA

A ramp leads into the adjacent building, the smallest of the three that make up the total footprint of the department store. Here you’ll find housewares and home decor, as well as seasonal items at the holidays.

racks of womens clothing inside Dunham's Department Store in Wellsboro, PA

The third building is the largest of the three and the only one with more than one floor of retail space. The main floor is filled mostly with women’s apparel – casual and formal with all the accessories. The brands are mostly familiar and the quality of the garments are better than you would find at discount department stores. Julie has bought some items there over the years and have been good quality and last from year to year.

assorted stickers on a spinning wooden rack inside Dunham's Department Store in Wellsboro, PA

There’s also a small corner of gifts, including Wellsboro puzzles, pictures, coffee mugs, and other trinkets.

assorted mugs, puzzles, magents, and gifts with Wellsboro images on them from Dunham's Department Store in Wellsboro, PA

Upstairs is the kids and toy department, one of the most impressive parts about Dunham’s. They have the typical kids clothes – Carter’s and Hatley for the youngest and name brands for the elementary school age. But the toy department is the real star.

toys displayed on a table in a U pattern at Dunham's Department Store in Wellsboro, PA

Dunham’s focuses on quality over quantity in the toy department. There are shelves of Brio and Hape wooden train sets, displays of Melissa & Doug pretend play, large Playmobile sets, and eco-friendly Green Toys made from recycled plastics.

With an eight-year-old and a two-year-old in tow, we spend a lot of time in this area, especially with them bouncing between the two wooden train sets set up for kids to test drive.

Most of these toys are built to last, which seems appropriate for a business that has lasted more than 120 years. While so many other stores have come and gone, Dunham’s has survived (and seemingly thrived). It’s a small-town success story that’s both an anchor and icon of Wellsboro.

When You Go

Dunham’s is open seven days a week with limited hours on Sundays.
While visitors flock to Wellsboro throughout the year, Dunham’s is primarily a local-focused business. The selection is tailored to those living in north-central PA and many clothing options would be more “practical” than stylish.
The cafe keeps its own hours, typically opening before the store. It has your standard Starbucks drinks but is not a Starbucks (for those who like to use the Starbucks app). If you’re looking for a coffee shop with local roasts, try Arise Cafe on Central Avenue two blocks away.