What new restaurants, bars opened in Centre County in 2025 — and what else is coming?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Centre County welcomed 18 new bars and restaurants with 11 more in progress.
- New eateries showcase global cuisine, including Persian, Turkish and Korean fare.
- Closures cite rising costs and lease issues, while chains like Chipotle expand locally.
Whether you're a visitor returning to watch a Penn State football game after a long offseason, or a year-round resident who dines out every week, odds are there's something new in Centre County's bar/restaurant scene that you'll still want to check out.
With at least 18 new businesses already open in 2025 — and another 11-plus working to open — the State College area and beyond has experienced a lot of change so far in 2025. From authentic Persian cuisine to gigantic pizzas to a Hall of Famer selling chicken sandwiches, it's hard for any single person to keep track of it all.
So we created a comprehensive list as a staff. This doesn't include every change, such as new ownership at Alloy Kitchen, and it doesn't include non-eateries and non-bars like the new Fine Wine & Good Spirits store that opened earlier in August at 1536 N. Atherton St.
Here are all the openings, closings and restaurants/bars in the works. (For the latter, we included only those projects we could confirm were still in the works.) If we overlooked something, email jmoyer@centredaily.com.
Newly opened in 2025
Bella Vita Pizzeria and Grill (105 W. Main St., Millheim): The pizza shop centered around hand-tossed pizzas, hoagies and salads replaces OIP Millheim, and owner Curtis DeSousa says he’s “here for the long haul.” DeSousa’s personal favorite menu item is Bella Vita’s tomato, basil and pesto pizza, which features a ricotta and garlic herb base topped with mozzarella cheese, pesto and slices of tomato.
Benny Leone’s (109 S. Fraser St., State College): The trademark for this chain is its gigantic, 28-inch pizzas. (One 28-inch pizza is equivalent, size-wise, to four large Domino’s pizzas.) One slice is enough for most, and the business is open until 3 a.m. Thursday through Saturday — and 1 a.m. other days.
Buffalo Wild Wings (134. S. Garner St., State College): The sports bar chain offers more than two dozen flavors of wings and, in addition, also boasts sandwiches, appetizers, and more. If you can’t settle on a wing sauce, consider Honey BBQ. The company says that’s one of their most popular flavors, and a food critic earlier this year put it among her top-5 favorites from Buffalo Wild Wings.
Caramel Afternoon Pastry and Catering (214 E. Calder Way, State College): This new bakery offers European-inspired treats and coffees — and it replaces Dulce Luca Cafe, which closed last year. The pastry case features a wide range of puddings, cakes, tarts, pies, cookies and more. The shop also sells several coffee-based beverages, including hazelnut and blue cotton candy-flavored lattes.
Eden Valley Coffee Co. (165 Elmwood Street, State College): This new shop, situated near Maine Bay & Berry Co., ofers lattes, cofees, cold brews, matchas and chais, and more. The business serves blends of Rothrock Coffee with a unique primary roast that has notes of pecans and maple flavors, according to owner Zoe Duffus. Pastries are also available from The Cakeshop by Tati and Kathryn’s.
Fatema’s Kitchen (200 Ellis Place, State College): The location is certainly unique — inside the Christ Community Church complex — but the food has received a lot of praise. Fatema Mosawi, an Afghan woman who was forced to flee her homeland in 2021, cooks up some Persian dishes that one can’t find elsewhere in Centre County. One of the favorites is the Kubideh Kebab, a dish consisting of ground meat blended with onions, spices and herbs on a bed of saffron rice.
Fatoum Bistro (532 Westerly Parkway, State College): The focus here is most definitely on international food and “worldly cuisine” for breakfast and lunch, but the new spot also offers traditional local favorites. In other words, at the same table, you can enjoy shakshuka, Mudammas and vindaloo along with waffles, pancakes and French toast.
Fresh Bite Pizza (300 S. Pugh St., State College): This shop replaces the former location of 8 Mile Pizza and offers a larger menu compared to the past tenant. Traditional pizzas are available — even with nontraditional toppings like halal pepperoni and mango slices — in addition to speciality pizzas, sandwiches, pasta and salad. But the star of the show? Fresh Bite’s Detroit-style pizzas, which should satisfy former 8 Mile customers.
The Hideaway Electric Speakeasy (127 E. Calder Way, State College): This neon-soaked bar reopened in August after first opening for about five weeks and abrupty closing in April. An internal investigation, the summary of which was obtained by the CDT, showed there was “substantial and credible evidence” the owner inappropriately touched staff and exhibited aggressive and intimidating behavior. The owner has denied the accusations, and the speakeasy remains open for business.
Kitchen Garden (2137 S. Atherton St., State College): Whether you’re looking for breakfast or lunch — or something from the dessert case — this Turkish/Mediterranean spot is tough to beat. You can find staples like waffles and egg sandwiches, but you can also order unique fare such as gozleme, a stuffed flatbread somewhat reminscent of a quesadilla. Before you leave, do yourself a favor and try the Rolled Walnut Kadaif, which is similar to baklava but is lighter and crispier.
The Meadows of Happy Valley (2934 Benner Pike, Bellefonte): The popular frozen custard chain is always packed on warm days — and for good reason. Flavors rotate daily, and it’s difficult to resist the creamy custard in whatever form it comes in, whether that’s a sundae, milkshake or cone.
The Parlor (167 S. Potter St., Bellefonte): This is more than just an ice cream shop. Savory dishes are available, such as burgers made with beef from local family farm Happy Valley Wagyu, and owner Justin Leiter has a track record of crafting good eats — as he was a sous chef at the Gamble Mill, previously operated the Red Horse Tavern and opened a food truck (Belle City Bites). His small-batch ice cream here is also made with a base of cream from Vale Wood Farms, before unique ingredients are mixed to create flavors such as “strawberry pretzel cheesecake.”
Pelicana Chicken (1869 N. Atherton St., State College): This international Korean-fried chicken chain offers double-fried wings that somehow manage to be as crisp as they are moist. Also offered are appetizers and unique specials, such as stir-fried chicken gizzard and kimchi pancakes. Friendly advice: If you’re going to take out, just order ahead of time. You might enjoy the crispy chicken, but you won’t enjoy the wait when it’s at its busiest.
Penn Steaks (119 S. Pugh St., State College): Call it a new business, a rebranding, whatever you want — but the fact is this location has notable differences from the business it replaced in Campus Steaks. (The former owner was sentenced to prison for at least 15 years due to defrauding homeowners.) A new ownership group said it has upgraded its offerings by adding ribeye to its cheesesteaks, and it also started baking its own bread daily.
Red Roost Diner (807 Pleasantview Blvd., Bellefonte): This family-run restaurant offers a wide-ranging menu full of diner favorites, including breakfast platters, sandwiches, cheesesteaks, pork chops, liver and onions, and even spaghetti casserole. Every item on the menu is under $15, including the 6-ounce sirloin steak with a side and dinner roll.
Shaky Hands Coffee Shop (106 W. Bishop St., Bellefonte): This “eclectic, cute, warm and inviting space” features a selection of coffee and espresso-based drinks, teas, lemonade, hot chocolate, milks, an Arnold Palmer drink and more. Various foods are also available, including traditional breakfast items, baked goods, sandwiches and dips.
Twin Kiss Restaurant (2495 N. Eagle Valley Road, Howard): Technically, this isn’t a new restaurant. But when new owners decide to reopen nearly a full year after the business originally closed, we believe this still merits a mention. The beloved hamburger and ice cream stand is keeping much of the menu the same, with burgers, hot dogs and BLTs priced under $10 each. Hand-dipped ice cream also remains the focus at Twin Kiss, where guests can choose between Hershey’s flavors like moose tracks and peanut butter cup.
The StillHouse Eatery & Craft Beverages (137 Streamside Place, Spring Mills): This is the latest venture from C&D Brewing Ventures, Inc., the team behind Otto’s Pub & Brewery and Barrel 21 Distillery & Dining in State College. As part of that synergy, this Penns Valley restaurant shares its space with a Barrel 21 tasting room that sells distilled spirits, Otto’s handcrafted sodas and more. The food menu consists mostly of burgers, sandwiches and some entrees — with some dishes you can also find at Otto’s.
Closed in 2025
8 Mile Pizza (300 S. Pugh St., State College): This popular spot, which began in 2023, abruptly closed in February and cited the reasons as “rising food costs, staffing difficulties, location and financials.” Another pizzeria, which also serves Detroit-style pizzas, has already taken its place in Fresh Bite Pizza.
Chen’s Mongolian Buffet (1880 S. Atherton St., State College): Owner Jin Feng Jiang told the CDT the property’s management team chose not to renew the all-you-can-eat buffet’s lease because it was making way for “new development.” A Chipotle is expected to occupy this space in the near future and Chen’s is looking for a new location.
Little Mamma’s Pizza (105 S. Main St., Pleasant Gap): After eight years, Little Mamma’s Pizza closed earlier in August and will eventually reopen at Titan Market (2024 Axemann Road, Bellefonte). This community staple was forced to close after ownership of the property changed hands in July and the new owner immediately raised the rent.
Oeuf Boeuf et Bacon (131 S. Garner St., State College): The downtown French diner closed in July after operating since September 2022. Award-winning chef and owner Gillian Clark said the primary reason she opted to close was because of her health, explaining it was significantly impacted by recent operations that included a knee replacement and rotator cuff surgery. “I didn’t want to end with me saying, ‘OK, we can only be open for an hour today because I’m too old to stand up,’ ” she told the CDT. “We figured we’d end on our own terms.”
Currently in the works
Big Chicken (448 E. College Ave., State College): This fast-casual chain founded by NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal is reportedly expected to open early next year. The core menu includes a lineup of crispy or grilled chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders and wings, salads, crinkle-cut fries, mac and cheese, and 10 different milkshakes and ice cream sundaes.
Brooklyn Bodega Deli & Grill (340 E. College Ave., State College): This New York-style deli intends to open sometime this fall. The new store will offer a wide range of grab-and-go snacks, groceries and food options, including breakfast sandwiches and hand-sliced deli meats. It will be open until 3 a.m. every night.
Chipotle (1880 S. Atherton St., State College): This is set to replace Chen’s Mongolian Buffet, which appeared to be forced to close to make way for the State College area’s third Chipotle location.
Happy Valley Live (1031 E. College Ave., State College): The We Are Inn’s spin-off restaurant is aiming to open by mid-September in the space that was long occupied by Damon’s Bar & Grill (before short-lived ventures by two other ownership groups). Happy Valley Live will serve a wide-ranging menu that includes tailgate favorite appetizers, burgers and other sandwiches, plus seafood dishes and Italian dinners inspired by owner Pat Romano’s upbringing in the Philadelphia area. Romano also hopes to host a wide range of entertainment offerings, including line-dancing nights, mechanical bull rides, live music and DJ sets.
Honeygrow (170 E. Beaver Ave., State College): This fast-casual stir-fry and salad chain will reportedly open sometime later this year, although no specific date has yet been announced. The menu includes a wide range of stir-fry dishes and salad bowls featuring garlic butter shrimp, serrano chili, garlic butter chicken and plenty of vegetarian options.
Kung Fu Noodle (346 E. College Ave., State College): In March, the CDT was told the chain’s location here would open in May or June. That hasn’t happened yet, and a new timetable has not been publicly announced. But, when it does finally open, customers can expect a menu with hand-stretched noodles, pan-seared pot stickers, sausage-fried rice, braised pork, stir-fried noodle bowls, spicy tofu, Chinese donuts, and more. Plans also include a counter serving boba drinks and teas.
The Press Cider and Craft Beverage Tap House (113 Hiester St., State College): This business originally planned to open over the summer at the former location of The Deli Restaurant & Z Bar, but it’s been delayed — and a new timetable hasn’t yet been announced. This is a joint venture between Punxsutawney-based Punx Cider Worx and State College-based BeeCider, so the tap house will serve selections from both of those limited wineries. It will also feature rotating guest taps of Pennsylvania-produced craft beer and cider, house-crafted cocktails, exclusive small-batch releases and collaborations with local producers.
Riko’s Pizza (142. E College Ave., State College): The former Spats Cafe location above Doggie’s Pub should finally be getting a tenant in the Connecticut-based Riko’s, but nothing ever appears to go smoothly at this location. A spokesperson told the CDT in May it wanted to open by Aug. 31, while acknowledging that might not be possible since the “build for this location is particularly complex.” It’s not yet known when it might open its doors. This pizza shop will eventually feature a 22-stool bar and 14 TVs. Riko’s thin-crust, crispy pizzas are 13 inches and cut into six slices.
Sora Teriyaki & Sushi (448 E. College Ave., State College): This new Japanese restaurant will be in one of the first-floor retail spaces at the oLiv Hetzel high-rise. There’s no specific opening date yet, but the hope is this will be open for business by the end of the year.
Tikka Shack Indian Grub (448 E. College Ave., State College): Like Sora, this restaurant is opening in one of the first-floor retail spaces at the oLiv Hetzel high-rise. And it’s aiming to open by December, although no specific date is yet set. The menu includes a wide range of bowls featuring grilled meats and curry, kebabs and wraps, plus chicken wings, naan pizzas and even naan tacos. Other starter dishes include samosas, masala fries and vegetable cutlets.
Wawa (three locations): The Philadelphia-based company has plans so far to open at least three separate locations in Centre County. The company is planning to hold a “community partnership day” in early September with presentations from Wawa officials and taste testing, but, for now, the timelines here are unknown. (However, it appears the earliest the first Wawa will open its doors wouldn’t be until later in 2026.) Locations include Benner Township, within a mile or two of both Sheetz and Rutter’s; Ferguson Township, near Champs Sports Grill on North Atherton Street; and Potter Township, at the spot of the former Snappy’s near Centre Hall.
CDT reporters Matt DiSanto, Jacob Michael and Bret Pallotto contributed to this story
