Longtime Centre County pizza restaurant plans a return to downtown State College
A longtime Centre County pizza restaurant has plans to return to downtown State College next year.
Pizza Mia plans to open a new State College location inside the new ōLiv State College high-rise in fall of 2024. The restaurant operated in State College at that same location — 114 Hetzel St. — from 2016 until 2021, when the building was sold for construction of the high-rise.
The restaurant’s Bellefonte location, 106 N. Spring St., has been open since 2003.
John Jennings, owner of Pizza Mia, said Tuesday the plans are still in the early stages but the deal has been a long time in the making.
“A lot of people had to come together,” Jennings said. “And even now a lot of people still have to come together but if we’re successful then we will be open by the end of 2024.”
Jennings announced the return and advertised open positions for the new location and the Bellefonte eatery on Monday in a Facebook post. For the brand-new State College residents and Penn State students who didn’t experience Pizza Mia during its original State College tenure, Jennings has some suggestions.
“Absolutely do not miss the pizza,” he said. “If you want to sandwich experience like you’ve never had, you’ll love the Dogie.”
