Giant store to close in State College, be replaced by Hills Plaza location

The Giant supermarket location at Hills Plaza will not be the third store in the State College area.

The new digs will instead replace old ones, according to a Giant Food Stores spokeswoman.

“We are always looking to provide our customers with the best stores, and this new store will greatly enhance the shopping experience,” Giant President Tom Lenkevich said. “In addition, this store location will provide more direct access to the surrounding residential neighborhoods and convenient parking.”

The Giant located at 2222 E. College Ave. will close in late 2018 when the new location opens.

Land development plans were submitted Sept. 15 to College Township for a Giant supermarket at Hills Plaza. The retailer will fill the 68,404 square feet of space.

State College Diner will be demolished as part of the plans, which include minor land development improvements such as replacing sidewalk and handicap ramps for ADA compliance, relocating the main doorway into the store, relocating light poles and removing several concrete pads.

A tenant has not occupied Hills Plaza’s largest anchor space since Ames closed in 2002 when the company closed its stores in a corporation-wide bankruptcy.

Hills Plaza co-owner Tony Vita has not responded to requests for comment on the property for more than three years.

College Township Engineering and Planning Secretary Linda Magro said the land development plan will not go through planning commission or council.

This story was originally published September 27, 2017 at 11:10 AM with the headline "Giant store to close in State College, be replaced by Hills Plaza location."