Downtown State College business cites COVID-19 as the main factor in decision to close
An expiring lease, a reduction in sales during the COVID-19 pandemic and a changing downtown State College landscape compelled Sadie’s Gourmet Waffles to close after about six years in business, its owner said Thursday.
The homestyle bakery and brunch restaurant that specialized in Liege waffles closed about two weeks ago, though owner Marie Librizzi said her lease at 118 S. Pugh St. ran through July 31.
The business likely wasn’t going to stay in downtown State College either way.
Librizzi was operating under the belief the Herlocher Corporation, which purchased the Gentzel Building in July 2017, was not willing to extend the lease for Sadie’s.
She hoped to move to a new location, but the cost of moving, advertising the new location and other associated costs was “not economically feasible,” Librizzi said.
“The Herlocher Corporation was not willing to give us a new lease,” Librizzi said. “We would’ve had to move the business to another location and that just financially was not an option in this environment.”
Herlocher spokeswoman Sharon Herlocher declined to comment Friday about the lease.
“Now more than ever, downtown State College is the heart of Happy Valley,” Herlocher said. “It’s so important for everyone to shop downtown first and support businesses that are obviously going through tough times.”
Sadie’s joined Mike’s Wood Grill and Bar as at least the second Centre Region eatery to close and cite the COVID-19 mitigation efforts as at least a partial factor.
Librizzi declined to discuss how the business’ sales were affected, but wrote in a Facebook post that “the COVID-19 dilemma has forced us to close since ... no one is here for us to serve.”
About six people were employed at the business, she said.
“We are saddened to tell our incredible, loyal customers that Sadie’s Waffles has closed permanently,” the business wrote Thursday in a Facebook post. “We appreciate all the fantastic people we have met and hope that you can remember the joy our incredible waffles and baked goods with great memories.”
The closure left the business with an unneeded surplus of food and supplies, most of which Librizzi said she donated to the Alpha Fire Company.
“The Alpha Fire Company is my favorite charity locally. We brought them over a truckload of cups and dishes and napkins and anything we had,” Librizzi said. “We’ve been pretty busy to make sure that none of that was wasted.”
This story was originally published May 15, 2020 at 5:15 PM.