Houts employees start anew in Penns Valley

By Jennifer Thomas

Centre Hall is getting its own mini O.W. Houts, complete with the store’s former butcher, Chris Kuhn.

Kuhn and partner Julie Leitch plan to open Mel’s Market, a small grocery and custom meats shop, on Thursday at the former Luse’s IGA at 231 N. Pennsylvania Ave. in Centre Hall.

Custom cut beef, chicken and pork will be available. That means New York strip steaks, fresh ground beef and roasts cut to order, turkeys at Thanksgiving and hams at Easter, the couple said.

“We’ll guarantee you’ll get a good piece of meat from us,” Kuhn said. “You’ll be back.”

Kuhn said everything is custom cut and fresh, not frozen, without preservatives.

Plans are for a full-service Boar’s Head deli. That works for Leitch, who became a sales rep for the company after leaving her job as grocery manager for Houts.

Family and friends helped the effort get off the ground, they said.

Kuhn said he had a long-time client at O.W. Houts who, before he passed away several years ago, had asked for years when Kuhn was going to venture out on his own.

The answer came in January with the closing of O.W. Houts, where Kuhn had been butcher for 27 years.

Kuhn and Leitch, who plan to marry this summer, purchased much of Houts’ equipment when the store closed, Leitch said.

Other offerings will include home-style salads, including macaroni and potato salad, garden salads, premade sandwiches, such as panini, and Saints Cafe coffee.

“We’re going to have the basics too,” Leitch said.

That means milk, ice cream, eggs and bread will join some of Houts’ favorites, such as chocolate-covered dried cherries and blueberries.

She plans to expand the grocery offerings.

“I’m going to see what customers would like to have,” Leitch said.

She said those with local products they want to sell can contact her.

“I want to have a lot of local stuff, but it’s really hard to know what’s out there.”

The store will be open from 7:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with the exception of Thursday. That day the store will close at noon.

Customer orders can be filled while you want or made in advance by calling 364-1164.

South Atherton updates

Looking at South Atherton Street, rumors are flying about the former Ames store location in the Hills Plaza.

The property owner told me talks have been ongoing with two potential tenants, who he declined to name, and said nothing has been decided or finalized.

So for now we’ll have to wait.

Those of you eager for gas and a cup of joe at that end of town also are in a holding pattern.

Developer Bob Poole told me that a traffic study for the former South Ridge Motor Inn property at 1830 S. Atherton St., where Sheetz, a restaurant, car wash and office space are planned, is still in the hands of the state Department of Transportation.

Poole said nothing can move forward until that’s done, and he said he expects it to be another five to six months. Eco-friendly containers

Webster’s Cafes, in downtown State College and on Aaron Drive in Patton Township, have gotten a little more earth friendly with a new line of recyclable take-out containers, including products such as corn starch and sugar cane.

Owner Elaine Meder-Wilgus said it just fits with the earth-friendly mentality of many of her customers.

“We wanted to offer that same feeling to our customers when they were getting something to go,” he said. The cups, which have a cornstarch base, will break down in 90 days once the composting process begins. “It’s very important to me,” she said. “I can’t let money be the excuse not to do the right thing. It feels really good.”

Bank at Home Depot site

Kish Bank’s plans for the Home Depot plaza in Patton Township include a two-story financial center, complete with 5,000 square feet of commercial office space, which will be available for rent.

The center will be adjacent to the new home improvement store.

Kish plans to offer a full-range of financial services, including its travel services.

The facility should be completed and occupied in early 2009.

Jennifer Thomas can be reached at 231-4638.