Casino, coffee shops and more opened this month in Centre County. Here’s a full look
Centre County’s business landscape saw major changes in recent weeks, with a long-awaited mini-casino opening its doors and several new food and retail spots arriving across the region. At the same time, one downtown Bellefonte shop announced it will close after just over a year in business.
Here’s a look at business news from April:
• Happy Valley Casino officially opened at the Nittany Mall with regular hours from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. The mini-casino features 600 slot machines, 30 table games and employs nearly 400 workers. The casino’s dining options include Aces Social, a sit-down restaurant, and Lucky Break Cafe, a quick-service spot.
• Starbucks is expected to anchor a new shopping plaza at the former Autoport motel along South Atherton Street. It would be the chain’s ninth State College location, occupying a 2,033-square-foot endcap space with a drive-thru.
• Morning Glory Bagels & Coffee opened in Pleasant Gap at 113 E. College Ave., taking over the former Cakeshop by Tati and Warren’s Kitchen space. Owners George and Madison Salgado are serving signature bagel sandwiches and a full coffee menu Monday through Saturday.
• A Polish Water Ice franchise opened at 127 W. Beaver Ave. in State College. Run by former Penn State concessions manager Miklos Vajda, it is the brand’s first franchise to serve food, including chicken tender baskets, cheesesteaks and Hershey’s Ice Cream.
• A second Bellefonte-area Dunkin’ is planned for the former Rite Aid building at 821 E. Bishop St. The 1,848-square-foot location with a pickup window is expected to open in the second half of 2026 as part of a multi-tenant redevelopment.
• La Vida Local, a sustainable thrift and vintage clothing boutique, opened inside Belle Mercantile in Bellefonte. Owner Stephanie Calderon stocks items influenced by her travels across the U.S., Mexico, Argentina and Guatemala.
• Hobby Hour in Bellefonte announced it will close after just over a year at 141 W. High St. Owner Emily Tressler called the closure “a transition into something new.”
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.
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