With each semester comes an influx of new students and a farewell to those moving on, and in State College, businesses follow the same ebb and flow.
In just a few short months the doors closed on some businesses in State College while others opened up, trying to become the next college town favorite.
One store in the process of closing and migrating online is the Rag and Bone, a vintage clothing store located at 224 E. Calder Way. While the store itself will be closing Dec. 29, the clothing and accessories are still available online through the website Etsy.com, according to Shelley Banker, owner of the Rag and Bone.
Banker said the decision to close the store was a personal choice. After running the store for 17 years in State College, Banker said that she was ready for a change. She noted that dedicating more time to her online sales could expand her market and drive the business in a new direction.
In addition, Penn State students saw the recent closure of *ndulge Cupcakes, formerly located at 206 W. College Ave. A Facebook post dated December 1 from *ndulge reads, “From the bottom of our hearts, Thank You, State College, and always remember to ‘Live Well. Die Happy.’ ”
Valerie Fudurich said she found out about *ndulge recently, but said the news came just a few days too late.
“My friends were just telling me about *ndulge Cupcakes the other day,” Fudurich (junior-nuclear engineering) said. “They were telling me about how wonderful of a place it was, but then told me ‘actually it’s closing and moving to Philadelphia.’”
The saying goes with every door that closes, another door opens — and it’s no different for rising businesses in State College.
The vacancy left by the 797 Sports Bar and Lounge has since been filled by Noodles & Company, where, for months, students took pictures with their heads inside a giant pasta bowl that read, “Look ma, we’re eatin’ great at Noodles!”
The former location of Tony’s Big Easy, 129 S. Pugh St., has since been transformed into Duo, the New Orleans-themed restaurant and nightclub.
Also, in McAllister Alley, Tea-Time opened, which is a Taiwanese tea shop serving bubble tea, coffee and fruit drinks; to name a few.
The Kentucky Fried Chicken formerly located at 2020 N. Atherton St. has since closed and the vacancy was converted into Kranich’s Jewelers, the second such store in State College and fourth location in central Pennsylvania, Store Manager Levan Lezhava said.
Lezhava said the store opened on Oct. 12. He mentioned that Kranich’s Jewelers was interested in building a self-standing store and found the location on North Atherton Street fitting for the company’s goals.
Campus Candy closed down its location on East College Avenue and on Oct. 18, was replaced by The Attic. The Attic, according to its website, is a “unique modern and vintage clothing store where you can buy, sell, and trade your clothes,” and already has three Pennsylvania store locations.
Aside from the in-and-out nature of businesses in existing buildings, new construction has begun in several areas, including a planned apartment complex named The Retreat on Waupelani Drive as well as the recently named Trader Joe’s Plaza.
Trader Joe’s Plaza includes Pier 1 Imports, the new Trader Joe’s grocery store, and one confirmed new store that will be added to the plaza, according to the Keystone Commercial Real Estate Group.
Although some of the new openings in State College are franchises, Robbie Atkins (freshman-information sciences and technology) said he was pleased to see that, “A lot of these new stores in the downtown area look like small businesses.”
