Cricket Wireless opens first full retail store in State College

One-Stop Communications held a grand opening of a Cricket Wireless franchise on Friday at 1619 N. Atherton St.

Cricket Wireless, which offers a no-annual contract alternative to major carriers, tends to offer cheaper plans that include taxes and fees.

“We know Centre County is going to be a good market for us,” One-Stop President Michael Buffington said. “We’re just looking forward to helping people save money on their wireless phone bills there.”

The Lewistown communications company plans to open five more Cricket Wireless locations throughout central Pennsylvania in the next year and a half, Buffington added. The State College location, which held a soft opening at the end of June, is the first full retail store in the area.

Buffington said the interior has been remodeled and the team — the store will hire seven employees — will have demonstrations with the phones, which include Android, Apple and Windows Phone handsets.

According to a release, Cricket Wireless offers unlimited smartphone plans that start at $30 per month.

“Some people have gotten used to the fact that there was really only two choices,” Buffington said. “Now we kind of got to educate them that there really is another choice and we’re doing no contracts, no credit checks and very simplified pricing.”

The store is also set to carry the new iPhone 7, Buffington added.

AT&T acquired Leap Wireless International, which operated under the Cricket name, in 2013. Cricket Wireless users have access to AT&T’s 4G LTE mobile network.

Hoagie reprised

After 12 years, the sub has resurfaced.

Troy’s Philadelphia Hoagies returned to the State College restaurant scene earlier this month and has added some new wrinkles besides the old standbys. Owner Troy Guenot, who returned to the restaurant business after working in the oil and gas industry, said the smoked pork and chicken cutlet sandwiches are new additions to the lineup.

But for those looking for classics — Italian hoagies and cheesesteaks — won’t be disappointed either, he said.

“The comments that we’re getting out of the people who are coming from Philly are the cheesesteaks are as good or better as the one they’re getting in Philly,” he said. “That’s just awesome for people to be saying that.”

The eatery, located at 434 W. Aaron Drive in the former Callao Cafe, is open seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Delivery is available through OrderUp.

“It’s good be back in business in Centre County,” Guenot said.

Pop up and say boo

Halloween City, the pop-up costume and party store, opened last week. The seasonal store will remain open until the end of October, a Party City spokesperson said.

The store is located at 134 S. Allen St. in State College. The site was formerly an Abercrombie and Fitch location, which closed at the end of last year.

According to the Party City spokesperson, the store will carry a selection of Halloween decor, candy and costumes for all ages.

Parent company Party City Holdco Inc.’s retail operations include more than 900 Party City and Halloween City locations across North America.

Where the winds blow

Nicholas Hordov does not live in a glass house. Though he does own one.

Sort of. The Happy Valley Glass House, a custom glass-blowing and pipe business, recently shifted locations from Uncle Eli’s Art Store on East Beaver Avenue to 110 Hetzel St. Hordov began moving into the leased space earlier this month.

It’s a little more than a stone’s throw. The new location will offer more breathing room — a difference of about 800 square feet — besides an updated aesthetic. Technically, the space may be housed in a primarily brick structure, but the interior offers clear views of the various handmade pipes and smoking devices.

“It was basically a no-brainer,” Hordov, 24, said. “We needed a space that would be capable of housing all these extra ideas I have.”

In the new space, there will be a glass-blowing studio where customers can watch live demonstrations. Visitors can also sit down and relax: Hordov said he plans on adding a lounge area with a TV.

Hordov, a Penn State graduate, plans to offer to brand name pipes in addition to pieces customers can have custom ordered. Eventually, there will be classes where interested consumers can learn to make their own.

It’s big difference for the State College native, who began selling glass pieces while in college and opened Happy Valley Glass House in December. As his business grows, so too do the attendant duties.

“You grow up working for someone all the time, so you’re basically just told show up here and do this,” he said. “So the hardest part is getting the energy to do everything.”

This story was originally published September 24, 2016 at 6:18 PM with the headline "Cricket Wireless opens first full retail store in State College."