A new card shop, appealing to the "wildside" of its State College patrons, will open in March at 345 E. College Ave., said the business' new owner.

"It's gonna be glitzy," said Harry Kerr of Wildcard, his third but original card shop.

Kerr owns two Card Gallery shops --one in Clearfield and the other in his hometown of Barnesboro -- that stock mostly Hallmark cards and gifts.

"The whole thrust of this card shop is to be on the cutting edge of what's trendy," said Kerr.

Property owner Sid Friedman hired Jack Frost Construction Inc. of State College late last year to make major renovations of the interior. Kerr's own contractor, Rockway Inc. of Altoona, began "finishing" touches on Jan. 3.

Contracting supervisor Robert Ensign said he is incorporating several area firms in order to bring life to the building's hollow interior. The site provides about 2,600 square feet to work with, Ensign said.

Kerr said Wildcard will offer T-shirts, novelties, posters, glass ware, mugs and of course cards of all sorts including adult humor.

"We hope to bring fresh card and gift ideas into the area," said Kerr.

Kerr said he has geared the theme for his shop toward students and he expects to compete with "anyone who handles cards and gifts."

"We hope to fill probably half our positions (with college students),"said Kerr.

Kerr has already hired University student Mark Jareb (graduate-microbiology) as assistant manager.

The tentative opening of "Wildcard" is set for March 1.