Openings, closings, updated plans and more: Business news you may have missed in May

Matt Hymowitz
·3 min read

Familiar brands announced new locations in Centre County in May, with Dunkin’, McDonald’s, Days Inn and Starbucks all making news. Beyond that, a new bookstore and a pair of pizza places made plans to open.

Here’s a review of the past month’s local business developments:

New in town

  • Dunkin’ is expected to open a Philipsburg location in early June. The coffee and doughnut spot chain will set up shop at 1161 Philipsburg Bigler Highway, the former site of Adventure Video.

  • A McDonald’s is planned in Benner Township’s Paradise Shopping Center at the intersection of Paradise Road and the Benner Pike.

  • The Days Inn brand returned to State College, with the announcement of the Days Inn by Wyndham State College. The hotel at 1274 N. Atherton St. was formerly a Quality Inn.

  • Starbucks opened at the Pugh Centre in downtown State College. The building is located at the corner of Pugh Street and Beaver Avenue. A “Coming Soon” sign had been posted for the new store late last year.

The Starbucks on the corner of Pugh Street and Beaver Avenue opened in May.
The Starbucks on the corner of Pugh Street and Beaver Avenue opened in May.

  • Print Factory, a cultural space and independent bookstore, plans to open this fall at 130 S. Allegheny St. in Bellefonte. The nonprofit has set up a GoFundMe to help launch operations.

  • 8 Mile Pizza is set to open this fall at 300 S. Pugh St. in State College. The Detroit-style pizza place will take over the former site of Gumby’s.

  • After 16 years in the industry, Matthew Gouty started Tayco Pest Control. The company is named for his 6-year-old daughter Taylyn, who would be the third generation of the family in the pest control business in Centre County if she follows in her dad’s footsteps.

  • Brothers Pizza plans to return to downtown State College with Giuseppe’s Pizzeria by Brothers. The shop at 204 E. College Ave. was formerly Weirdoughs Custom Pizzeria.

  • Willow Lane Boutique opened a storefront on 119 N. Front St. in Philipsburg.

  • Marzoni’s Brick Oven & Brewing Co. expects to open in State College later this summer — late June at the earliest. The restaurant will take over the former TGI Fridays at 1215 N. Atherton St.

The space at 130 S. Allegheny St. in Bellefonte will become the home of the Print Factory.
The space at 130 S. Allegheny St. in Bellefonte will become the home of the Print Factory.

Saying goodbye

  • Hello Bistro closed for good on May 14. The restaurant opened at 126 W. College Ave. in 2019.

  • With the opening of the new downtown State College Starbucks, the location on South Garner Street closed.

Project developments

  • A preliminary timetable was released for the State College Town Centre project that shows an opening as early as fall 2025. The nine-story building on the 200 block of Allen Street would include two bars/restaurants and a hotel.

  • The developer of a fulfillment center warehouse in Benner Township hopes to start construction before winter, a county planning official said.

  • EC Power, a State College research and development firm in State College, is looking to build a $50 million lithium-ion battery factory in Philipsburg.

  • Borough Council approved a liquor license transfer for Figo Italian, moving the restaurant closer to a planned fall opening on the ground floor of The Standard at State College, 330 W. College Ave.

A fulfillment center warehouse is proposed for 103 acres in the the Benner Commerce Park.
A fulfillment center warehouse is proposed for 103 acres in the the Benner Commerce Park.

Honors and awards

The Forest Resources Association named A.M. Logging LLC of Millheim the 2023 National Outstanding Logger at its annual meeting in May. A company team spent four months last fall in Pine Island, Florida, to help clean up after Hurricane Ian. Earlier this year, A.M. Logging opened a mulch yard in Lewisburg as part of its “zero waste” philosophy. The yard helps meet growing demand for hardwood mulch while providing a place for the residual, low-value wood left from harvesting. The company also participates in the Sustainable Forestry Initiative training in Pennsylvania.

A.M. Logging LLC of Millheim is named the Forest Resources Association’s 2023 National Outstanding Logger on May 9 at the association’s annual meeting in Point Clear, Alabama. From left: Wes Miller, operations manager Andrew Miller and managing member Mark Byler accept a commemorative plaque from FRA Chairman Pete Stewart. They also received a check for $1,000 from Stihl. They plan to donate the check to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals through Log A Load For Kids.