Chipotle set for summer opening

By Nick Malawskey

- nmalawsk@centredaily.com

Well, it’s official. Chipotle Mexican Grill, which last month posted a help wanted ad for a new store manager in the State College area, is indeed on the way.

Katherine Smith, a Chipotle spokeswoman, said the company plans to open its State College location in mid- to late August.

“We’re excited,” Smith said. “I think Chipotle has a great vibe and is a cool place to be.”

Smith said the company has a history of using good-quality ingredients in all of its foods, including naturally raised beef, organically grown vegetables and rBGH-free milk.

Downtown real estate developer Ed Friedman said the company will be moving into one of the commercial spaces at the site of the former Cinema 5 theater on Hiester Street.

The Friedman Real Estate Group redeveloped the site after the five-screen cinema announced it was ending its downtown run in late 2007. Chipotle will be the first tenant to move into the new commercial spaces.

Smith said the State College branch is one of a number of others the company has planned to open this year across the East Coast.

“The company is growing,” she said.

Camp mixes generations

Centre County resident Lori Pacchioli has an interesting background, having worked with both children’s educational programming and elderly populations in the local community.

This summer she’s looking to blend the two together in a summer enrichment series for children.

What Pacchioli has developed is a number of mini-camps, called Ready, Set, Grow, that will run throughout the summer. Each camp has its own theme, appealing to different age levels.

For instance, 4 -and 5-year-olds can participate in “Fun with Fairytales,” bringing together drama, arts and crafts; 5- to 6-year-olds can take part in “Super Heroes are Super Friends,” a mix of activities developing teamwork and language.

But what is really interesting, and sets Ready, Set, Grow apart, is that it brings together the children with the residents of Brookline Village, bringing an intergenerational component to many of the programs.

Pacchioli said one of the camps’ aims is to “build civility in our community by bringing younger kids and older people together.”

The idea is that in addition to the educational programming, the children will also be able to interact and learn from their elders.

“I just think it’s mutually beneficial,” she said.

To register for one of the minicamps, or to find more information, contact Pacchioli at 237-5230 or zasup@earthlink.net.

Pier 1 Imports to close

The Pier 1 store off Benner Pike will close next month.

A company spokeswoman said the store, which sells furniture and accessories, will end its run in State College on July 27. The store’s closing is one of as many as 125 across the nation following a difficult year for the retailer. For its fiscal year that ended in February, the company reported a net loss of $129 million amid declining sales attributed to the weak economy.

Pier 1 has been a presence in the State College area for about 11 years. Company spokeswoman Whitney Rogers said the business has “enjoyed serving our loyal State College customers over the years.”

The company has not made any announcements regarding the store in Altoona.