Openings, closings and more in Centre County business scene

September was a busy month for business news in Centre County, with openings, closings, plans revealed and more.

For instance, Happy Valley Casino is progressing with its mini-casino development at Nittany Mall, planning to offer a variety of table games by April 2026. At another site, Bubba’s Eggs, Steaks & Shakes plans to bring diner-style meals back to an iconic downtown property, emphasizing a traditional dining ambiance. Meanwhile, Wawa held a community event to discuss expansion plans with several convenience stores, marking a significant regional presence. As for closures, Creekside at the Gamble Mill in Bellefonte shut down after four years of operation, indicating shifts in the local culinary scene.

Construction continues at the warehouse on Penntech Drive on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. By Abby Drey

NO. 1: HOTELS, EXPANSIONS AND MORE: WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THESE CENTRE COUNTY CONSTRUCTION SITES?

With fall and cooler weather right around the corner, peak construction season in Centre County is coming to a close, but there are still plenty of active work sites out there, some of which you may have been wondering about. | Published September 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jacob Michael

Bubba’s Eggs, Steaks & Shakes plans to open at 131 S. Garner St. in State College. By Matt DiSanto

NO. 2: NEW DINER TO OPEN AT THIS ICONIC STATE COLLEGE PROPERTY. HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW

A new diner-style restaurant plans to open inside an iconic downtown State College property. | Published September 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Matt DiSanto

Construction is ongoing at the Nittany Mall for the Happy Valley Casino on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. By Abby Drey

NO. 3: HAPPY VALLEY CASINO REVEALS FULL TABLE GAME LINEUP, INCLUDING BLACKJACK AND ROULETTE

A clearer picture is emerging for the State College area’s long-awaited mini-casino as developers eye an April 2026 opening. | Published September 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Bret Pallotto

Justin Tichy, Wawa’s chief operating officer, chats with community members alongside Chris Edwards, a director of store operations, following a Wawa community event on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. By Abby Drey

NO. 4: AT COMMUNITY EVENT, WAWA GIVES UPDATES ON CENTRE COUNTY STORES — INCLUDING A NEW ONE

Wawa’s long-awaited expansion to the central Pennsylvania area took a major step Tuesday when the convenience store giant introduced itself to Centre County and unveiled new plans for the State College area. | Published September 9, 2025 | Read Full Story by Matthew DiSanto

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NO. 5: AUTHENTIC IRAQI CUISINE IS ON THE MENU AT THIS NEW STATE COLLEGE RESTAURANT

A new restaurant is set hopes to bring authentic Middle Eastern cuisine to downtown State College. | Published September 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Matt DiSanto

Creekside at the Gamble Mill has seemingly closed after more than four years in business. By Jacob Michael

NO. 6: RESTAURANT AT HISTORIC GAMBLE MILL IN BELLEFONTE CLOSES AFTER 4 YEARS IN BUSINESS

A restaurant inside a historic Bellefonte site has seemingly closed its doors for good. | Published September 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Matt DiSanto

Construction of the Seven Brew Coffee in the Hills Plaza parking lot on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. By Abby Drey

NO. 7: SEVEN BREW COFFEE ‘DROPS’ NEW SHOP INTO STATE COLLEGE. WHEN WILL IT OPEN?

A drive-thru coffee shop literally dropped into State College earlier this month. | Published September 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Matthew DiSanto

Julianna Retherford is opening Little Lions Play Den, an indoor play cafe at 154 Rolling Ridge Drive in State College. By Abby Drey

NO. 8: STATE COLLEGE INDOOR PLAY CAFE READY TO WELCOME KIDS, PARENTS. HERE’S A SNEAK PEEK

State College-area parents may no longer need to choose between letting their children play and finding some peace of mind themselves. | Published September 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Matt DiSanto

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.