Chocolates and flowers may not be flying off the shelves yet, but local businesses and restaurants are steadily setting their sights on Saturday, anticipating one of the sweetest holidays.

State College Floral Shoppe, 127 W. Beaver Ave., employee Leslie Clark said in previous years, there has been a line out the door and down the street of people waiting to purchase flowers for Valentine's Day.

"It's a lot of fun nonstop. You just go and go and go," she said. "I love people's expression when they get flowers ... it's almost always unexpected."

State College Floral Shoppe owner Linda Shirk-Johnson said exotic flowers, such as lilies, Birds of Paradise and other colored roses are becoming more popular with younger generations. However, Clark said red roses are still the most popular, traditional flower of choice for many guys who fear disappointing their significant other.

"Guys never know what to buy, and they end up with red roses," Clark said.

Local chocolate shops are anticipating the holiday as well. Paul Jensen, employee of the family-owned Chocolate Madness, 224 E. Calder Way, said taking the time to show others you've been thinking about them is what Valentine's Day is all about. "It's the idea that you've been working to get their attention and to get that special someone something special," he said.

Jensen said he finds many people's healthy New Year's resolutions amusing since Valentine's Day is around the corner. "In four weeks, it's going to be Valentine's Day. Diets will go out the window ... at least for a little while," Jensen said.

For those who feel that a significant other is of a more permanent nature, they have the option of getting his or her name inked on a body part as a declaration of love -- although some tattoo artists don't recommend it.

Tony Campbell, of Totem Tattoo, 225 W. Beaver Ave., said he tries to discourage customers from tattooing the name of their loved one, unless it's a family member.

"Girlfriends come and go," he said. "So do wives."

Instead, Campbell said he likes the idea of customers getting a symbolic reminder of their love, like matching tattoos or a broken heart tattooed on two people -- with no names attached.

"People just do it because they're in love," Campbell said. "I think that's a neat idea."

Dawn Williams, office manager at the Tavern Restaurant, 220 E. College Ave., said the restaurant doesn't often cater to Friday and Saturday night reservations and will try to limit the amount of exceptions for Valentine's Day.

"We took only a limited number of reservations," she said. "We wanted to accommodate walk-ins."

Valentine's Day products have not been flying off Wal-Mart shelves, 373 Benner Pike, but that doesn't worry management. With 24-hour availability, it is a last-minute shopper's paradise for gift ideas, according to assistant manager Jim Greenland.

"We have a lot of last minute shoppers, mostly men, but some women as well," Greenland said.