Local businesses dress up for Halloween

By KATHERINE MORRIS
Collegian Staff Writer

By pulling out boxes of scary decorations, creating ghoulish displays in their store windows and concocting their own delectable goodies to entice onlookers, local businesses and restaurants are ready to celebrate Halloween.

Many stores will be decorated for the holiday weekend and are planning special events for both the patrons and employees. The employees of Mike's Video, 210 E. Calder Way, for example, will be dressing up the store and themselves in preparation for the holiday.

"It's a fun holiday, and nobody cares (what you look like)," said Clint Rozelle, assistant manager of Mike's Video, adding he is planning on dressing up like a woman.

Along with costumed employees, Mike's Video has a special display of its horror movies set up for customers.

Cafe 210 West, 210 W. College Ave., also will pull out all the stops for this weekend.

"Most of the festivities come from the patrons who come to the restaurant all decked out," said Jay Willard (senior-administrative justice), a bartender at Cafe 210 West.

Employees of Chili's Grill and Bar, 137 S. Allen St., will be getting in the spooky spirit of the holiday by dressing up in costumes.

"I'm planning to dress up as Baby Spice," said Meredith Hunter (senior-music education), hostess at the restaurant.

The Bakery, 132 W. College Ave., has received many orders for Halloween baked goods. Its window displays include pumpkin lights and cakes made to look like brains, vampires and mummies. One of the scariest creations is the eyeball cookie that stares at pedestrians through the display case.

"We're making a lot of special stuff. We've sold a bunch of dismembered arm cakes and pumpkin pies," said Sean Keating, a sales clerk at The Bakery.

Those looking for something to do in the spirit of this weekend will have plenty to choose from.

The State Theatre, 128 W. College Ave., will show the new movie, Bride of Chucky. Player's Nite Club, 112 W. College Ave., will have an Annual Halloween Ball beginning at 8 p.m. tomorrow, followed by a Halloween parade at midnight.

Wild Card, 346 E. College Ave., decorated its windows, displaying skeleton candles and ghost blowups. And many of the employees will wear costumes tomorrow.

"I'm just planning on dressing wild and wacky," said Tom Powell, a sales clerk at Wild Card.

Mario and Luigi's Restaurant, 114 S. Garner St., also is going all out for this weekend. The restaurant will serve a feature menu, including a pumpkin-filled ravioli Halloween special.

Employees Ray Yeager and Rachel Derea will dress up as Santa and Mrs. Claus for the day.

Some businesses, however, will not participate in the Halloween festivities because of the home football game this weekend.

"This is the first year in a long time that we won't be having a best-dressed competition between the patrons and employees," said Norm Brown, owner of Student Book Store, 330 E. College Ave.

"But this year we're doing the Penn State blue-and-white pride theme."