Bits of Business

Diner finally opens

By Nick Malawskey

Residents of the south side of State College have a new night spot — the State College Diner in Hills Plaza opened quietly this past week.

The restaurant features all the traditional fare, including breakfast that’s available all day, along with a smattering of seafood and dinner options.

And for diner aficionados, there’s a counter you can mosey up to and enjoy a hot cup of joe.

Posted hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, with 24-hour service on Friday and Saturday.

It’s good to see a new business opening on that end of town — hopefully it can act as a draw for the plaza.

For more information, call 861-3333.

Pardon the dust

The Wal-Mart on North Atherton Street has begun four months of renovations.

The company said it will be upgrading the store department by department to modernize the location and bring it in line with the company’s image.

Wal-Mart has capitalized on the public’s bargain hunting recession mindset, posting profits across 2008 and into 2009.

What’s interesting about the renovations is the store will not close — rather renovations will continue throughout its hours of operation.

Most of the heavy moving and construction will take place at night.

Maps (yes, maps) will be available to shoppers at the front of the store so they don’t get lost amid the hustle and bustle.

The company says it has hired an additional 40 people to assist customers while the renovations are ongoing.

Hospital gets $1 million

And speaking of renovations, the Mount Nittany Medical Center received a nice present recently to help its ongoing expansion projects.

Local business owner Don Hamer and his wife, Marie Bednar, have pledged $1 million to support the construction of a new intensive care unit.

Hamer’s gift will go to the medical center’s “Commitment to Distinction” campaign, part of which includes the three-floor, 42,000-square-foot build-up of the existing east wing.

Projected to open in 2010, the addition of two inpatient floors and one intensive care floor will offer single-bed patient rooms and increase intensive care capacity.

Hamer is a member of the board of directors for The Foundation for Mount Nittany Medical Center, a member of the center’s steering committee and the founder and chairman of State of The Art Inc., based in State College.

Chipotle in State College?

Chipotle Grill, known for its burritos and guacamole, is apparently planning to open a location in State College.

The company recently posted an invitation for resumes on its Web site, looking for qualified individuals to apply for a general manager position for a new store in State College.

The Denver-based company owns and operates all of its locations and it was only a matter of time, I suppose, before they started looking at the State College market.

This past week the company would not say where it was planning on opening the restaurant, nor what its timetable was.

Rumors have been flying, though, linking Chipotle to several locations in the downtown district.

Nick Malawskey can be reached at 235-3928 or nmalawsk@centredaily.com. He also writes a business blog at www.centredaily.com.