Fasta closes in State College, because the owner is opening something new

Fasta & Ravioli Co. has closed its downtown State College store, but it’s not going far.

The company will continue to sell its products at McLanahan’s at 414 E. College Ave., according to owner Bob Ricketts, who said he has a new idea for his original pasta shop off Fraser Street. The space will be turned into a micro kitchen for young chefs, private dinners and cooking classes conducted by local food entrepreneurs for aspiring cooks and the general public on pasta making, baking, butchering and cooking.

“Kitchen Incb. is a micro kitchen for food innovators to develop, test and produce concepts of all things relating to food,” the business’s website said. “A learning kitchen for classes of all manner, ages and ethnicity. A place for fun, food, group indulgence and organizations to fundraise. A project in social entrepreneurship, giving back and bringing you closer to your food.”

Ricketts’ inspiration behind the concept is to foster food entrepreneurship in Happy Valley. The space is also a fully licensed kitchen.

“This will be a great outlet for small entrepreneurs to sell products and experiment,” he said. “There will be a pop-up dinner component, a place for groups to meet up and have private and have a less traditional, private setting for dining out.

“We’re still feeling out where the demand totally lies. We are uniquely situated that we can do a lot of different things.”

Ricketts expects to open Kitchen Incb. this fall.

This story was originally published June 22, 2017 at 6:48 AM with the headline "Fasta closes in State College, because the owner is opening something new."