Fast food, farm-to-table, brewery and more: Here’s what opened in Centre County this year
Centre County lost some landmark businesses in 2019, but the community saw the opening and reopening of several new ones.
New places to eat in Centre County
Kicking off 2019, Tailgate Sports Bar and Grill opened in January at 1301 E. College Ave., the former home of Lettermans Sport Grill.
The restaurant offers sit-down dining, a sports bar with TVs and Penn State memorabilia. The business also offers catering services for events and parties.
Since The Cakery opened in March, residents are able to purchase individual pastries and cakes in-store or make custom orders for special occassions and events.
Located at 135 W. High St., the business is owned and operated by Bellefonte resident Melissa Stitzer. The Cakery offers a variety of menu items, including cupcakes, cookies, European pastries and full cakes.
Located inside the Unit-Mart at 3180 W. College Ave., Lupita’s Authentic Mexican Food opened in June.
Owner María Guadalupe Rojas Orozco grew up in Oaxaca, Mexico, and discovered a love for cooking after preparing meals for local farmers. After struggling to find work at home, Rojas began selling food to help take care of her son but was later inspired to move to the United States.
After moving to Centre County, Orozco finally achieved her dream of opening her own restaurant. Serving “authentic fast food,” she said customers are welcome to order and sit or order and leave.
Roots Natural Kitchen opened in July at 270 E. Beaver Ave. Co-foudners Alberto Namnum and Alvaro Ansbach said they wanted to bring health food to college towns.
The first Roots Natural Kitchen opened in Charlottesville, Virginia, outside of the University of Virginia. The chain offers health, affordable eating options, specifically salads and their signature green bowls.
Located in Philipsburg, 209 East Sandwich Joint also opened last summer.
Wanting to offer meals made from fresh produce, 209 East Sandwich Joint uses ingredients purchased from Strong Roots Organic Farm. The business also sells arts, jewelry, tapestries and handmade products from local artists.
Formerly Luna 2, Mike’s Wood Bar and Grill was renamed by owners Bill McFadden, Michael Corbet and Troy Markel in July. The business, located at 1229 S. Atherton St., was revamped over the summer and underwent renovations, a name change and additional menu items.
With a wood fired grill, the restaurant can make Faccia Luna pizzas as they appear at the original location. The menu also features sandwiches, salads, new appetizers and entree, but the most noticeable addition is hot dogs directly from PNC Park.
After years of development and renovations, Duke and Monica Gastinger opened RE Farm Cafe in July, a project seven years in the making.
The restaurant, which is located at 1000 Fillmore Road in Patton Township, takes farm to table to a new level. The menu rotates meals often depending on what produce is in season on the farm. Customers are encouraged to visit the website in order to see what the cafe will be serving weekly.
Looking for a more permanent location than its food truck, Brazilian Munchies announced in August that it would be setting up camp in Pegula Ice Arena.
The new location at Pegula, 250 University Drive, offers take-out options and offerings range from Brazilian beef stew to yucca fries, cheese puffs and burritos.
The first BRGR outside of Pittsburgh opened in Centre County in September. Located in the former Citizens Bank building at 122 W. College Ave., the menu includes classic, signature and build-your-own options. BRGR also offers milkshakes and spiked shakes that can be made with bourbon and vodka.
The newest Hello Bistro location opened in downtown State College in October.
The Pittsburgh-based company Eat’n Park Hospitality has moved into the location of the former Ye Olde College Diner, 126 W. College Ave.
Customers can order signature salads, build their own or choose from burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches and soups. In addition to beef, Hello Bistro also offers plant-based Beyond burgers, veggie burgers and turkey burgers.
Brewery, cidery and winery join the scene
Voodoo Brewery opened in March at 201 Elmood St. While this is the organization’s seventh full-time tavern in Pennsylvania, it is the first in Centre County.
Prior to opening, general manager Eric Nartatez said the brewery aimed to bring back one-on-one, face-to-face conversations in a “vibey, fun” culture.
Bottled and canned beer are available for takeout, while 11 beers are on tap. Customers can also order Burnt Timbers wine, Nartatez said.
Pisano Winery held its grand opening in May, unveiling the tasting room set inside a 19th-century barn at 103 Penn St., in Millheim.
What started as a hobby for Andy and Patricia Pisano is now a reality. The small-batch winery offers eight varieties, four red wines and four white wines. Beer from Elk Creek Cafe & Aleworks is also for sale at Pisano.
The family-owned J.L. Farm and Cidery held its grand opening in June. Selling their signature 814 Cider Works brand, the farm and cidery is located at 3392 Shingletown Road in Ferguson Township. Matt LeClair, the youngest son, manages the farm and supervises all cidery operations.
The family’s craft hard cider can be found on the farm and cidery menu along with other Pennsylvania beers and nonalcoholic beverages. The kitchen operates on a rotating schedule where local food trucks like Clem’s BBQ, Rosie’s Perogies, Scott’s Roasting, Happy Valley Dishes and Brazilian Munchies have been featured on the menu.
Fast food options expand throughout region
Centre County also saw the opening and reopening of several fast food chains.
After being demolished earlier this year, Sheetz on Benner Pike in College Township reopened in August. With a seating area and beer cave, the the 765 Benner Pike location has 14 gas pumps and parking for up to 43 vehicles. While the county has Sheetz locations in State College, Philipsburg, Bellefonte and Centre Hall, this is the first with a drive-thru.
The second Wendy’s in Centre County opened in Bellefonte in September. Located at 135 Buckaroo Lane, the fast food restaurant was in the works for over a year.
In March, Centre County’s sixth Dunkin’ opened, located at 2825 Benner Pike between Bellefonte Lanes bowling alley and Graystone Court Villas. The business boasts 2,279 square feet and houses a drive-thru.
Chipotle Mexican Grill opened its second location in the Centre Region in September.
Located in Patton Township, the restaurant occupies the real estate that used to house Denny’s, which was torn down and replaced with a 5,402-square-foot building and has indoor and outdoor seating.
After a nearly decadelong absence, KFC made its return to Centre County in December.
The chain opened a 2,800-square foot location at 1780 S. Atherton St. Customers can place orders at the drive-thru, in the 42-seat restaurant or online for pickup or delivery.
Sports venue, shops add something new to area
After opening in February, the Nittany Valley Sports Centre is already set to expand, hoping to make Centre County a sports tourism destination.
With support from local and state officials, the 70,000 square foot, soon-to-be-renamed Nittany Valley Sports and Event Centre will expand with an additional 50,000 square-feet facility to be used for hard court sports, tournaments, trade shows and conventions, said owner Michael Lee.
The all-in-one event venue, performance space and art gallery 3 Dots Downtown opened in June at 137 E. Beaver Ave. The vision for the space is to host artistic and innovative experiences, innovation director Spud Marshall said. Grants through both the Knight Foundation Fund and the Kalin Family Fund plan to support operating costs for about three years.
A new Giant supermarket opened at Hills Plaza in June, replacing the store’s East College Avenue location.
Construction on the 68,000-square-foot store began in October 2018. The new Giant includes an in-store Starbucks and “Beer & Wine Eatery.”
Owners of the Rampage Room wanted to bring life back into the Nittany Mall. After Centre County’s first break room opened in August, residents have the chance to break, smash or destroy objects, in a safe and controlled environment.
The business also includes a virtual reality arcade. Both the break room and arcade can be booked for special events and group activities.
After a grand opening in October, PoleSpin offers a new way for Centre County residents to exercise. Located at 145 N. Front St., the business offers classes from 1-8 p.m. during the week.
Winged Beauty, located at 120 W. Bishop St., is one of the newest additions to downtown Bellefonte. After opening in October, owner Lauren Lucas said she wanted to fill a gap in local beauty services.
Cape Escape, a business that opened in October, wants customers to “walk away with something unique.”
Located at 244 E. Calder Way, the store primarily sells superhero capes and handmade dress-up items for all ages. All costumes may be personalized on-site.
Wanting to bring something new to downtown State College, Happy Valley Holiday Shoppe owner Michael Kelley thought a seasonal gift store was reason to celebrate.
The store, which switches merchandise with the holidays, opened in November. Kelley said he doesn’t plan on stocking Penn State merchandise in an attempt to set the shop apart from other downtown businesses.
