As the Old Main bell strikes midnight, the downtown streets are typically filled with students. Those wandering about often stop by Canyon Pizza, 260 E. Beaver Ave., creating a line that winds down the street.
Canyon Pizza, claimed by one student as the “perfect drunk pizza,” is always the place to be after a night out.
Whether coming for the famous dollar-a-slice pizza or to meet up with friends, by midnight on a Friday or Saturday Canyon Pizza is packed.
Abby Kenly has been working for Canyon Pizza since she was 16 and described the chaos typically expected on weekends as nothing of the ordinary.
“It’s definitely an entertaining job. I wouldn’t have worked here so long if it wasn’t,” Kenly (sophomore-health policy administration) said.
While discussing crazy experiences she’s had while working for Canyon she told tales of seeing people hit by cars, multiple fights where the cops were called, and numerous people vomiting from intoxication. She’s even seen “people leave their crusts outside [only to] have other drunken people walk by and take their used crusts and eat them.”
Even during the day, Canyon has had crazy incidents, such as a guy who came in and took a “ladle of ranch [dressing] and [started sipping] it like soup,” Kenly said.
Kenly also said that people often try to bribe workers to get a free slice of pizza when lacking money, some offering beer and others asking if they can flash for a slice. Kenly said “girls come in and ask to flash all the time,” but it doesn’t work.
Kenly said she anticipated seeing more people out at Canyon Pizza on home football game weekends or on holidays such as State Patty’s Day. On this particular holiday, Canyon opens earlier than usual and even dyes its pizza green.
On any given weekend it can also be expected that many notable Penn Staters will swing by, including the ever-famous Boombox Guy and Where’s Waldo. There might even be others in lesser-known costumes, like someone in a gorilla suit, sunglasses and a whiteout T-shirt, or a Flavor Flav outfit.
Rachel Lemashov , who typically works Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, described an incident she witnessed on “Thirsty Thursday” where a guy and his girlfriend were eating pizza. She watched as “[this] guy puked, made out with [his girlfriend], and kept eating his pizza.”
Lemashov (junior-communication arts and sciences and psychology) also told of how on many shifts, she’s serenaded by whatever catchy tune is blasting on the radio. She is often serenaded up to three times a shift.
Many nights there are a hodge-podge of people in crazy attires. A slew of outfits from all of the different theme parties occurring that night can be seen often including 80s, America, Playboy bunny, ugly Christmas sweater or geek.
Students sit anywhere there is a seat, from the picnic tables outside of Canyon or the sidewalk curb to enjoy their dollar slice, that more often than not is slathered in ranch dressing.
The atmosphere is typically one of happiness as students eat and dance around while waiting in line to the blaring music of the favorite Korean hit “Gangnam Style” or any other number of songs that are popular that week.
At 2:45 a.m., Canyon Pizza closes its doors and is left with another night of unforgettable stories.
