Area residents who want to purchase beer from a distributor during the week will have an extra two hours to do so if they are willing to travel to Boalsburg.

Happy Valley Refreshment, 420 Boal Ave., opened Aug. 28 and is the only beer distributor in the State College area that stays open until 9 p.m. during the week.

The three other beer distributors in the area close at 7 p.m.

Owner John Hardy said the added hours were necessary to better serve his clientele.

"The other major distributors supply bars and bottles shops, so their product is in front of the public at all times. Happy Valley Refreshment only sells beer for home trade and therefore we believed we needed to extend our hours," Hardy said.

He said the response from customers has been positive during the first month.

"Business has been fine. We have provided services that are fun for people," Hardy said.

Hardy explained that at first his customers were primarily from Boalsburg, with a strong showing from the Penns Valley area.

"Business from the student population has picked up in the last two weeks once they found out we were here. We have an excellent location with easy on, easy off access for football games," he said.

The license for Happy Valley Refreshment was purchased from Centre Beverage Company Inc., formerly of 127 N. Sparks St., which closed in 1999.

Opening as a beer distributor requires a license from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB), said Molly McGowan, PLCB spokeswoman. Centre County has seven distributor licenses.

Once the original licenses are granted, the individuals have the right to sell them, with PLCB approval. Six of the licenses belong to active beer distributors, while the owner of a former distributor has yet to sell the seventh license.

Happy Valley Refreshment sells kegs and cases of beer, along with cases of Coca-Cola products and bottled water.

Their selection of beer includes many Pennsylvania microbrewery products; among them are Troegs Brewing Company, Lancaster Brewing Company, Appalachian Brewing Company, Stoudt's Brewing Company and Pocono Brewing Company.

Happy Valley Refreshment is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The distributor offers drive-through service and employs five people, Hardy said.

He expects business will continue to pick up through the next several months.

"We have a good location, good selection, a very nice building and we're ultra-clean. I anticipate we will do well here," Hardy said.