As new national chains rise in State College, some residents fear the town's traditional character may fall. The most recent development in the ebb and tide of State College growth is a plan to build a Red Lobster.

The construction for the 200-seat Red Lobster, to be built off North Atherton Street, should begin in about one to two months, said Dick Monroe, vice president of public relations for Red Lobster. In one year, if all goes well, the Patton Township restaurant will be operating, he said.

The Centre Regional Planning Commission met recently with Waters and Associates Inc., to discuss preliminary sketches, but the project is not yet underway, said Bob Jacobs, commission planner.

"Whether or not (Red Lobster) follows through with it, we can't be sure. But this is one market area they're concentrating on," Jacobs said.

Part of the land for the development fringes on Ferguson Township along Aaron Drive, said Ferguson Township zoning officer Jeff Ressler. The land will need to be rezoned for commercial use, but nothing has been finalized as far as the rezoning is concerned, Ressler said.

It has been proposed that a Pep Boys automotive store may be built on the land as well.

And though the proposed Red Lobster branch could be just one of 630 in the United States, some local residents fear its impact on State College.

"More farmland is getting paved over for more stores people can only get to with more cars . . . and more traffic," said Anita Genger, president of the Holmes-Foster Neighborhood Association.

Residents worry about the "urban sprawl" that is developing in State College, Genger said. As plans to introduce a new Pep Boys, Giant Food Store and Red Lobster come about, residents fear the loss of surrounding farmland, she said.

But the farmland is not the only area of the borough being impacted. Downtown State College also continues to grow.

In the past year, State College has attracted national chains, such as Chili's Southwestern Grill and Bar, 131 S. Allen St., The Country's Best Yogurt, 120 E. Beaver Ave. and Eddie Bauer, 131 S. Allen St., into town.

"People hate to see old downtown go, but it's great to have Eddie Bauer," Genger said. Growth downtown is, for the most part, accepted by the residents, she said.

But not all retail owners agree.

"I would rather have State College owned and operated by local people because I don't perceive national chains as a healthy environment for downtown," said Joe Trimarchi, owner of Towne Gentlemen, 110 E. College Ave.

Trimarchi noted that although the store does get a great deal of customers who have already been to Eddie Bauer's downtown branch, national stores do not become important to the community.

"They don't partake in downtown activities," Trimarchi said, "and don't belong to downtown groups or contribute."

That is why Demetri Tsarouhis (junior-economics) said he tries to show his support by frequenting the local stores instead of national chains.

"It takes away from the romance of a college town. Who wants Pizza Hut when you could have locally owned Brother's Pizza?" Tsarouhis said.

Some owners, though, think the national chains benefit State College.

"They keep local owners' eyes open, make them keep up," said Martha d'Avila, salesperson for Mr. Charles, 228 E. College Ave.

But Rebecca Lewis (junior-earth sciences) said local store owners might not like what they see.

"Every small town across America is dying. There are naked storefronts everywhere," Lewis said.