Tucked away in an alley off the Fraser Street Parking Garage is a little bit of Italy in the making.
Fasta and Ravioli Co., 129 S. Fraser St., held its grand opening Wednesday as patrons steadily flowed in and out of the small shop, sampling various types of freshly made pasta.
The pasta shop, boasting more than 60 varieties of pasta that range from roasted red pepper to jalapeno orange, gave away free "farmers market-style" pasta throughout the day.
Owner Bob Ricketts, Class of 2007 and a State College resident, said he saw a "void" in the community for fresh pasta, which inspired him to open the food establishment of his dreams.
As Ricketts swiftly fed pasta dough into a machine to satisfy a growing line of customers, he said he couldn't pick just one style of pasta as his favorite. It's a great food to serve because of the freedom it gives the maker, he said.
"It's a creativity thing," Ricketts said.
Ricketts' father, also named Bob Ricketts, said he stayed up until 1 a.m. Wednesday helping his son make raviolis, which they can stuff with "anything you want."
While waiting in line to purchase her roasted red pepper fettuccine, Melanie Fisher, a support assistant in the university's administrative information services, said she appreciates the convenient location of the pasta parlor.
"I usually go to Olive Garden, but this is downtown ... much closer," Fisher said.
Rotelli Pizza and Pasta Restaurant manager Carlos Graham said he doesn't see a big competitor in Fasta and Ravioli Co. -- his 250 E. Calder Way business has a good following and serves more "gourmet pasta," he said.
Ricketts said he is not worried about a down economy affecting his business -- quality speaks for itself, he said -- but he is a little concerned about the off-the-path location. Ricketts' father, who said he and his wife purchased the shop for their son as a graduation present, said his son has always had "big dreams."
Though Ricketts wants to open a full-fledged restaurant in the future, he's concentrating for now on bringing fresh Italian pasta to the residents of State College.
Fasta and Ravioli Co. is open Wednesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. They also host a booth at the State College farmers market on Tuesdays.
