State College Venezuelan restaurant announces closure, teases future plans
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Juana’s, a fast-casual Venezuelan restaurant, will close in State College on Dec. 12.
- The restaurant has operated at 129 S. Pugh St. since late 2018.
- Juana’s owner Ady Martinez teased a future business concept coming next year.
A fast-casual Venezuelan restaurant plans to close in downtown State College after seven years in business.
Juana’s, located at 129 S. Fraser St., closed its doors with a farewell celebration on Friday, owner and master chef Adianez “Ady” Martinez announced in an Instagram post. She thanked State College’s community for its support over the years.
“It has been a great pleasure to serve you and offer you our homemade Venezuelan cuisine — the wonderful experience of grandmother’s cooking, with the flavor and seasoning of Isla de Margarita, made by the hands of her granddaughter and great-grandchildren, all from La Guaira,” the Instagram post reads. “The love, the quality, the process behind the creation of our dishes, and the unforgettable moments we shared, will always remain in our history — a history we built together in this wonderful town.”
Juana’s marked its last week by expanding hours to 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through its final day in operation. The restaurant also rolled out some specials and other surprises.
In a video, Martinez said Juana’s closure is not the end for her cooking in State College. She encouraged customers to keep an eye out for a new concept in early 2026.
“We are going to change,” said Martinez, who spoke in Spanish but provided English captions. “Let’s evolve. Let’s think about a new project. We are going to work on a new proposal, which will start between January and February of next year.”
It’s not yet clear what those plans entail, though Martinez referred to them as a “new business idea.” It’s also unclear if her team plans to remain at the Pugh Street property moving forward.
Martinez got her start in the local food scene at the State College Farmers Market before opening Juana’s in late 2018. She named the restaurant after her grandmother and used family recipes to fill its menu, which features arepas, cachapas and maduros.
For now, Juana’s fans can follow its Facebook and Instagram pages to potentially hear updates on Martinez’s next culinary venture.
This story was originally published December 12, 2025 at 4:13 PM.
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