Performances at Penn State's Downtown Theatre Center, 146 S. Allen St., may help attract customers to State College during the summer months but may fail to help the lag in sales that some stores experience in the post-holiday season.

Pennsylvania Centre Stage, a professional acting troupe that performs during the summer at the theater, does not perform there the rest of the year in order to avoid possible competition from the Center for the Performing Arts, which is responsible for bringing shows to Eisenhower Auditorium.

"It has long been our desire to move [performances] into the school year ... but there has been concern among some people about competition," said Penn State School of Theatre professor and director Dan Carter.

Carter said the process of choosing a location for the theater took about seven years and was selected to bridge the "town and gown" gap.

"It's generally proven that the arts are a fundamental part of revitalizing the area. It doesn't get any more in the middle of downtown than that," he said, referring to the theater's Allen Street location. "In terms of economic impact, it's all anecdotal information ... we have all the advantages of being in a big city ... but no subway and no crime."

Andrea Rubinsky, assistant manager of Panera Bread, 148 S. Allen St., said that in an attempt to attract theatergoers, the restaurant extended hours and provided coupons in the theater's playbill. But the promotion was not as successful as they would have liked during the summer.

"Now that more people know about [the theater] ... it might be something that we want to try again," she said. "We were actually losing money by staying open later."

Rubinsky added that business is generally better throughout the fall and winter.

Mike Desmond, owner of Hotel State College and manager The Corner Room and Allen Street Grill, 100 W. College Ave., said students determine the economic well-being of local businesses.

"State College is very much like a resort community. Students come and go ... they are the economic tide," he said.

Woodring's Floral Gardens, 145 S. Allen St., employee Erica Roan said various theater patrons purchased flowers when productions were staged throughout the summer.

"People would come in and say 'Oh my friend's performing ... I just want to get her something nice,' or 'my daughter was in a play,' " she said.

Desmond said he was "pleasantly surprised" with the increase in sales during the theater's performances. He added that the option of buying tickets at the theater for Penn State sporting events and other activities helps his businesses throughout the year.

"The ticket office is a great attraction to customers and guests," Desmond said.

Judy Moyer, owner of The Animal Kingdom, 103 S. Allen St., said having a venue like Penn State's Downtown Theatre might help encourage more local residents to shop in the area.

Those residents might otherwise shy away from the district while the university is in session.

"Maybe local plays will help bring in locals," she said. "It's pretty unique that we have such a strong shopping area."