Changes in store for local businesses

By Jennifer Thomas

If all goes well, it looks like you could be shopping at Kohl’s this fall.

Bellefonte to Boston ride: Check progress

A sign announcing the coming of the retailer has popped up at the construction site at the Colonnade shopping center — and it has dates.

It appears the store is slated to open on Sept. 28, with a grand opening on Oct. 1.

Construction has created some detours to get to next-door neighbor Target, with the lower road into the shopping plaza closed except for truck traffic.

And it appears to be a busy construction site, with all types of equipment and machinery coming and going. A concrete truck was on site Wednesday, most likely working on the foundation. Once that’s done, things should move along fairly quickly.

Confers selling Dodge lot

The “for sale” sign at the Joel Confer Dodge location on West College Avenue in Ferguson Township is generating a decent amount of interest.

The Confer family has sold their Dodge and Chrysler dealership to Blaise Alexander and is now trying to sell the real estate that was associated with that dealership, said Todd Confer, who owns the dealership along with his father Joel.

Alexander recently took over the Clark Motor Co. dealership, which sells Dodge and Chrysler vehicles.

Confer said the family is focused on the Joel Confer Ford dealership, at 2892 Benner Pike.

“We’re still here,” he said. “We’re here to stay.”

He said that the dealership can still handle Chrysler and Dodge vehicle concerns, with a Chrysler certified technician on staff.

Service calls can be taken at 355-5445. New airport operators

After 20 years, brothers John and Jeffrey Elnitski have taken over operations of the family-run Bellefonte Airport from their parents, Marina and the late John Elnitski.

John Elnitski said the airport is still offering flight training, inspections, repairs and rentals, as well as hangar rentals. An engineering plan to expand the runway width from 40 feet to 60 feet and take the airport into the future, is being developed, he said.

The brothers are also pursuing the idea of locating a restaurant, which would have the possibility of a liquor license, next to the airport building, John Elnitski said.

He asked anyone with interest in establishing a casual dining establishment with takeout to contact him at 355-7407. The Bellefonte Airport has been in the community since the late 1960s.

Valley Ace Hardware

This one’s a double update.

Valley Ace Hardware, 224 Old Route 220 in Milesburg, is undertaking a major renovation, according to manager Nate Knepp.

It started last fall with the renovation of the building’s exterior and moved indoors about two months ago. Knepp said that new flooring, checkout counters and lighting are just part of the update.

There will also be expanded departments for paint, plumbing and lawn and garden, he wrote in an e-mail. This is where the second update comes in. A few weeks ago I wrote about the Benjamin Moore paint franchise closing in State College.

By late summer, Valley Ace will be a Benjamin Moore paint dealer.

“We will have a complete line of their paint plus an expanded department of our own Ace brand paint too,” Knepp wrote. Fulton Bank promotion

You may find something extra if you visit Fulton Bank’s new ATM over the next couple of months — a gift certificate for $20.

It’s all part of the grand-opening celebrations for the bank’s first branch in Centre County, at 2209 N. Atherton St. in Patton Township.

They’re even giving away free Dairy Queen ice cream this week — fitting since the site used to be home to DQ. Branch Manager Tom Minichiello said the extras this week are of showcasing the new location and the bank’s offerings. That site also will be home to Fulton’s regional administrative center, which will be built in 2009. Construction is expected to start in June on a second branch location along the Benner Pike.

A $500 donation to ClearWater Conservancy is also being made.

The branch is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Friday and from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

Jennifer Thomas can be reached at 231-4638.