What's left in the Nittany Mall? Happy Valley Casino signals hope for some
The vast majority of Nittany Mall sits empty, a fate shared by malls across America in the Amazon age. But with Happy Valley Casino set to open this month, some shopkeepers are keeping their fingers crossed for a small comeback.
“When the casino came, that was a big push,” said Ling Vu, a supervisor at the three-week-old Nue Head Spa. Vu said the spa’s owners were looking to open in State College, and the mall presented an opportunity.
Bisected by T-Mobile, the spa is timing its grand opening to coincide with that of the casino. Asked if it would have opened in the mall if not for the casino, Vu said, “Probably not.”
It’s a sentiment shared by a handful of other business owners who have stuck it out in the mall despite decline. Only 24 of the mall’s 61 storefronts have occupants, 23 if you discount the one occupied by mall management. The introduction of the casino means all four anchors are occupied, though Rural King is walled off from the rest of the mall.
Just three name-brand retailers call the mall home in 2026: Bath & Body Works, Spencer’s and the women’s clothing store Maurices.
Planet Fitness takes up what used to be six stores. There is a senior center and a home health agency. There are two mom-and-pop eateries, two cell phone stores, a candle shop, a fencing school, a dance school, a locksmith, a U.S. Army recruitment office and the spa. Three storefronts are owned by the antique and piano salesman David Godiska, and one is controlled by the casino. There’s also a sushi restaurant opening soon.
“I don’t make the money I put in here,” said Jessi Molina, co-owner of La Caribbean Corner, a year-old Dominican restaurant. She said she supports the casino, located next door, because it could bring more people in to eat and might bring more businesses.
Godiska, a seven-year mall tenant, said he is hopeful the casino can bring foot traffic to shops because of how the mall is built.
The two parking lots buttressing the future casino have a roughly 400-car capacity, less than the 600 slot machines the casino plans to open with. Casino patrons may have to walk through the mall to get to their destination.
“I’d say 100% that it’s going to help with traffic in the mall,” Godiska said. “100%.”
Namdar Realty Group runs Nittany Mall and at least 74 others across the country, according to its website. Nittany Mall opened 1968 and was once anchored by Macy’s, JCPenney, Sears and Bon-Ton.
Mall manager Jason Smack did not respond to emails seeking comment. Dan Dilmanian, Namdar’s chief operating officer, did not respond to a voicemail seeking comment.
