With no plans to close, Philipsburg’s We Are Inn is up for sale. Here’s why
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- The We Are Inn is available for $1.6 million in Philipsburg.
- The restaurant and motel are not expected to close while searching for new owners.
- Health concerns and community backlash are behind the push to sell the We Are Inn.
Although a Philipsburg restaurant and motel are up for sale, their owner has no plans to close either business. Instead, he hopes to sell them to someone who can keep them thriving despite the negative treatment he said he’s faced in the community.
The We Are Inn, which includes a 16-room motel and restaurant at 1535 Port Matilda Highway, was listed Sunday with Ryen Realty at nearly $1.6 million. Owner Pat Romano told the Centre Daily Times Wednesday that he’s been fielding informal offers for the 1.38-acre property for a few months and hopes to sell to a new ownership group that will keep it up and running for years to come.
Romano said health concerns, including sciatica, played a role in his push to sell the Penn State-themed We Are Inn, which opened in 2020. But the driving factor, according to the owner, is a vocal minority within the community that seeks to damage the motel and restaurant’s reputation.
“People over in that town really, really treat us horribly. It’s jealousy because we have a successful business,” Romano told the CDT. “They have all these rumors that I’m in the mafia, that I’m a drug kingpin, that I’m a money launderer, all these different things. I hear every month, a couple of people come in and say, ‘Yeah, that’s why these people don’t come here.’ It’s not fair to my place — that I built and put all that blood, sweat and tears into — for it not to have everyone go in there who should be enjoying it.”
“I think if someone else went in there, the community might have a different respect as a whole,” he continued. “It’s not everyone, but it’s enough people buying into it. I just don’t want it anymore. I can’t deal with people saying horrible things just because we’re doing wonderful things.”
Romano, who is a Rush Township supervisor, did not cite specific individuals or organizations who have hurt the We Are Inn through gossip and negative word-of-mouth. He said some of the alleged comments targeted his Italian heritage — a prospect he claims he was warned about when moving to the area from Philadelphia years ago.
Romano said the We Are Inn has worked to give back to the Philipsburg community by hosting youth sports teams and funeral luncheons, donating trays of food, raising funds for various causes and organizing food and toy drives, among other initiatives. The restaurant has also worked to hire and train local high school students who have proven to be a key component of the We Are Inn’s workforce, he said.
“We’ve done so much for that community, and it hurts so bad when people talk about us in such a horrible fashion,” Romano said. “I can’t take it anymore, and I’m not going to let my family be subjected to it.”
The We Are Inn’s restaurant in particular remains a popular spot for locals and visitors, with predominately positive Google reviews.
Once the We Are Inn is sold, Romano plans to help guide its next owners and offer hands-on training and the use of his family’s recipes. Its menu boasts tailgate-favorite appetizers, burgers, steak sandwiches, Italian dinners and several seafood dishes, including lobster tails and crab cakes.
Romano hopes to sell the business to a family-oriented couple or group that understands the inn’s core clientele — families and Penn State fans — and wants to keep the operation running.
He expects most of the We Are Inn’s managers and cooks to stay put once the inn and its restaurant are sold.
Romano has more recently turned his attention toward opening the new Happy Valley Live restaurant and entertainment venue in State College, which he plans to continue running as it works toward a grand opening. He hopes future owners of the We Are Inn will help it thrive in Philipsburg.
“I want the We Are Inn to be successful because I live in that town, and I’ll be in there eating,” Romano said. “It’s going to be nice to stay connected with it. Nobody needs to know if I’m in there helping out and doing stuff. It’ll help their business by simply not having my name attached to it just because of all the horrible things said about me and my family.”
The We Are Inn, listed online for $1,599,000, boasts 16 motel rooms fit with a king-size bed and private bathroom. The restaurant features two bars, three dining rooms and outdoor seating options. The property has 48 parking spaces in its front lot and 36 more in its rear lot.
The We Are Inn is open daily for lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
This story was originally published October 22, 2025 at 3:50 PM.
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