Midwestern sports bar chain is now open in downtown State College. Take a look inside
A Midwestern sports bar and restaurant chain known for its daily drink specials and casual dining opened Thursday in downtown State College.
Brothers Bar & Grill, 134 S. Allen St., took over the site of the former Amazon Pickup Store. It’s the business’s first location in Pennsylvania. The chain operates more than a dozen locations nationally, including five in other Big Ten towns.
In a statement, chain owners and brothers Eric and Marc Fortney said they are “extremely excited” to open in State College. The Wisconsin-based chain was founded in 1990.
“The Midwest roots remain, but the Brothers concept has grown into a well-designed, spacious food, beverage and socializing sports enjoyment destination for everyone,” chief marketing officer Anthony Cortese wrote in an email.
A neon sign that reads “Brothers” and a Penn State flag hang on the wall to the left of the bar. On the opposite side of the restaurant, the wall is plastered with covers of music albums. “We Are” is painted on the wall that leads to the restrooms.
There are 232 seats at tables, with another 35 seats at the bar. Marc Fortney said the bar in State College is the longest at any of its eateries.
The full American menu consists of 14 sandwiches and wraps, 14 appetizers, seven hamburgers, wings, salads and more. It also has a kids menu.
Food prices mainly range from $9-$15. The restaurant plans to have $3 hamburger deals Tuesday, as well as wing nights on Wednesday. It’s scheduled to be open 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.
The two level, 8,000-square-foot sports bar and restaurant has pool tables on a mezzanine, arcade games and widescreen TVs throughout. Hanging from the ceiling are flags that pay homage to each of the chain’s other locations.
The business said a key priority is the amount of space between tables, giving customers ample room to socialize. A dance floor sits at the back of the restaurant.
More than 100 people were hired.
The bar’s six-figure liquor license was approved in February 2023 by Borough Council with limited conditions, such as alcohol sales being allowed only when food is still being served. The more restrictive conditions decision-makers turned down could’ve otherwise ended the chain’s plans.
Because the liquor license was transferred from Fuji & Jade Garden and, because Fuji’s former Westerly Parkway location received its liquor license from outside the borough, council was legally able to impose restrictions on the transfer that it couldn’t have otherwise.
Borough police and a neighborhood association expressed concerns, but staff acknowledged similar municipalities with a Brothers said the owners were good partners.
When asked during a January 2023 public meeting if this is a location where families and children would feel comfortable before the late-night crowd takes over, the brothers responded in the affirmative.
“We get it, OK? Now we’re growing up and, now, we want to go out too as young adults,” Marc Fortney said. “Eric has four children, I have four children — I have triplets — so it’s hard to please all the time. But the reality is that we want to be in our place as well. It’s terrific, OK? It’s casual dining.”
This story was originally published February 15, 2024 at 12:47 PM.