A new era in Penn State ice cream began last month with the opening of the new Berkey Creamery, and while flavors still cannot be mixed, the reviews for the new facility certainly have been.

"It's nice, it's a lot bigger," Jon Kauffman (senior-wildlife science) said.

Erin Holt (sophomore-advertising and public relations) agreed that the increased seating space is a positive change.

"I like that they put in a lot of tables," she said. "When it was over by the Pavilion [Theatre] it was real small, and you couldn't really hang out."

Creamery supervisor Susan Watson said Sunday that so far the increased indoor seating space has been an asset to the Creamery, especially during the past rainy football weekend.

"It poured down [Saturday], and we had a full store," Watson said. "Even in the rain we had really good sales." Creamery manager Tom Palchak estimated that Creamery sales have increased 12 to 15 percent from where they were at this time last year. Berkey Creamery now features five new registers -- two for cones and dishes, two for general purchases and one for coffee and drinks. Watson said the added registers should help lines move faster in the future and will also require the Creamery to expand its staff.

"The first football game we kind of just winged it," Watson said. "We're probably going to hire 10 to 15 new people."

New to the Creamery this year are "scrounds," lidded containers for the half gallons of ice cream that are replacing the boxes of yesteryear. Watson said the new containers, which are available in the coolers, have been a hit with customers.

"They don't have to worry about the boxes ripping like they did before," Watson said.

Still, the Creamery's new location -- about a block away from the old store -- has drawn negative criticism.

"I like the old one better," Stacey Kuhn (junior-accounting) said. "This one is too far out of the way to go to the Forum."

Palchak said the new location is a concern.

"Shortlidge and Curtin Road was certainly a central point on campus," he said. "The Forum was there, as well as the Pavilion area across the street."

Watson said the new location was confusing for some visitors.

"People don't know where to park," she said. "They don't realize they can park in the parking garage behind the Creamery."

Jon Mensch of Bloomsburg, who was visiting Penn State with his family over the weekend, said he had a hard time finding the new location.

"It took us a long walk to get here, and we had to ask like six people," he said.

The new Creamery also offers a more modern design, using curved lines and circular lights featuring the Nittany Lion to designate the ice cream scooping area.

"It's fabulous," law school student Andrew Tuozzolo said. "It's a great place to study."

Kauffman said the new design made him a bit nostalgic.

"You still don't have that old-fashioned style of the old Creamery," he said.

Those visiting the Creamery may have noticed one touch from the old store still intact -- the mobile flavor board featuring the Nittany Lion.

Palchak said this carry-over is only temporary and will soon be replaced by a bigger, more modern flavor board.