Grand opening planned for downtown State College eatery with new name, owners
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- A State College cheesesteak shop is rebranding and opening under the name Penn Steaks.
- The shop’s predecessor, Campus Steaks, opened in August 2023.
- The shop will host a grand opening ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 28.
A State College cheesesteak shop is preparing to reopen under a new ownership group.
The shop at 119 S. Pugh St. will celebrate its new name, Penn Steaks, with a grand opening ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 28. The shop is rebranding from its predecessor, Campus Steaks, which opened in August 2023.
Penn Steaks’ grand opening ceremony, scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, will feature complimentary samples from the shop’s menu of beef and chicken cheesesteaks, tailgate-inspired giveaways, free T-shirts and more, according to a press release.
Aside from its new name, Penn Steaks is upgrading its offerings by serving ribeye steak in its cheesesteaks and using bread baked daily in the shop. In a statement, its owners said the changes “reflect a commitment to both quality and craft.”
“Campus Steaks was a favorite for a reason,” co-owner JJ Bowman said in a statement. “We loved what it meant to the community, and we knew that with the same talented kitchen crew and some thoughtful upgrades, we could carry that spirit forward while making it even better.”
Bowman is one of five co-owners responsible for the new-look Penn Steaks shop. The group consists of State College Area School District alumni, Penn State graduates and lifelong area residents, including Fred Dailey, who owns Dailey’s Lawn Care in Boalsburg.
“We chose to live downtown so we could walk to events, support the university, and reconnect with the energy of campus life,” co-owner Eric Throne wrote in a statement. “This shop is a way for us to contribute to the community in a tangible, meaningful way.”
Under new management, Penn Steaks’ regular hours will run from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays, from 11 a.m. to midnight on Wednesdays, from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Thursdays, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays, according to its website. The shop offers online ordering and catering services, too.
Penn Steaks’ predecessor, Campus Steaks, opened nearly two years ago with a focus on serving Philadelphia-style cheesesteaks on rolls from the famed Liscio’s Bakery. Campus Steaks’ former co-owner, Joseph Ford, was sentenced in April to a term of 15 to 30 years in state prison after pleading guilty to fraud charges.
This story was originally published August 26, 2025 at 5:20 AM.
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