State College restaurants gear up for hungry 'Thon crowds

By JENNIFER BELLANTONIO
Collegian Staff Writer

The couples involved in the 1995 Interfraternity Council/Panhellanic Dance Marathon are not the only ones preparing for the 48 hours of continual activity.

While dancers are pampering their feet, catching up on lost sleep and buying comfortable shoes, some restaurant, hotel and store owners throughout State College are making their own preparations.

"We anticipate being very busy for the weekend," said Alfred Hughes, general store manager at Mario & Luigi's, 114 S. Garner St. "We will have extra staff so people can get in and out quickly."

As University students dance their hearts away for the Four Diamonds Fund of the University's Hershey Medical Center, family members and friends visit White Building to provide words of support. After hours of enjoying bands, games and fun, hungry observers head to town in order to satisfy their growing appetites. That is what restaurants, such as the Gingerbread Man, 130 Hiester St., are hoping and waiting for.

"People working and visiting the dance marathon are all out and have to eat," said Lincoln Stuyvesant, assistant general manager at Gingerbread Man. "It is not as busy as a football weekend, but it keeps us full."

These same loyal parents and alumni that travel to the area in support of the fund also must find a place to sleep.

Mark Morath, general manager at Days Inn at Penn State, 240 S. Pugh St., said he is aware of the excitement and enthusiasm exhibited in town. Morath said he has experienced the influx of families and supporters in past years.

"We always plan to have increased occupancy during the dance marathon," he said. "It always seems to be a big and busy time within the community."

Although this weekend is not projected to generate as much activity as a typical football weekend in State College, Charlie Biddle, manager at the Shoe Fly, 214 E. College Ave., projects that the event will cause people to get out and roam the town.

"We are actually running a clearance sale right now, but if we weren't, we would definitely do something for (dance marathon)," Biddle said.

Students, as well as local businesses, also notice the change in the downtown area as they prepare for this long-planned event.

Eric Bruno (senior-science) said this is his third year participating in the event, and each year he sees many parents and families coming in support.

"The whole experience draws you in and you want to do it again and again," Bruno said.

Each year people are drawn back to State College to share in that excitement and enthusiasm, and many are eager to purchase T-shirts or sweatshirts to visually display their pride in the event.

"They want to get something from Penn State so they can say they were at dance marathon," Luis Hernandez (senior-accounting) said. Hernandez danced last year and will dance again this year.

And when people are not buying food or souvenirs for themselves, they are often buying nourishment for dancers that are slowly and steadily running out of fuel.

"Last year my friends got milkshakes and hamburgers for people," Hernandez said. "I must of ate three or four."

A quick jog from White Building, down Shortlidge Road to College Avenue will give the supporter the opportunity to grab a convenient snack or cool beverage for the dancer who is unable to sit down and enjoy a home-cooked meal.

"We get an increase in business probably because we are close to where the students are," said Andrew Grandinetti, general manager at McDonald's Restaurant, 442 E. College Ave.

Some students said they believe that the power of dance marathon affects the townspeople as well as the local businesses.

"Townspeople are starting to realize that we do care. If you go to BiLo and wear a dance marathon sweatshirt people smile at you," Anthony Italiano (graduate-science) said. "They even come up to congratulate you."