State College establishments that alums miss the most

PhillyBillyReprise

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May 5, 2014
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I think in the late ‘60’s there were three men’s clothing stores: Jack Harper’s, Levine’s and [I don’t remember the third]. I didn’t have the money to buy clothes from any of them. That probably applied to the majority of male students and why only one remains in business.
 

Leo Ridens

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Oct 12, 2021
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I think in the late ‘60’s there were three men’s clothing stores: Jack Harper’s, Levine’s and [I don’t remember the third]. I didn’t have the money to buy clothes from any of them. That probably applied to the majority of male students and why only one remains in business.
Kalin's on Allen Street. I bought my job interview suit there. There was a fourth just a few doors down from it as well; its name escapes me.
 

Tony 83

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Nov 15, 2001
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Kalin's on Allen Street. I bought my job interview suit there. There was a fourth just a few doors down from it as well; its name escapes me.
In 1982 or '83, I bought interview clothes at the Young Men's Shop, which I think years later merged with Harper's.
 

olelion

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Jun 10, 2001
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What is your definition of clam night?
Weekly special dozen clams for a $1.00 (or something like that) along with pitchers of beer also for $1.00. Place would be ja,m packed wioth students and we would be running around for little or no tips. Hated those nights. Place was usually slightly upscale busines or small family dining.
 

Tom McAndrew

BWI Staff
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Oct 27, 2021
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Another one biting the dust. Not a restaurant but a place that has been there since 1981, Douglas Albert Gallery. (I have never been in there actually but walked by it a million times)

https://www.centredaily.com/news/business/article258455248.html

What a shame. I have been a fan of his gallery since it opened in 1981. Whenever I visit Happy Valley it is a must for me to drop in. I have bought numerous pieces of fine art there, and when fans from other schools asked what to see while visiting for games, I recommended they check out the Douglas Albert Gallery if they are at all nterested in art. Doug is friendly, talkative, and knowledgeable about art, and I always enjoy friendly banter with him. He has a sign that says, "Don't say that you are just browsing; say that you are contemplating a future art purchase" so I would always announce that immediately on entering. He also owns Uncle Eli's art supply store on Beaver Avenue which he started several years before he opened the gallery. I hope he can consolidate the two and move his gallery there. Having the gallery disappear would be a real loss for the area.

Good news on Douglas Albert Gallery:

 

Keukaotl

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Dec 2, 2021
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Kalin's on Allen Street. I bought my job interview suit there. There was a fourth just a few doors down from it as well; its name escapes me.
Was it Bostononian Limited in the building where Pickles is now? The store was owned by the Kresge family.
 

CvilleElksCoach

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Feb 1, 2005
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Was it Bostononian Limited in the building where Pickles is now? The store was owned by the Kresge family.
Yes, Pickles is where Guy Kresge had his Bostonian Limited store. What a wonderful person. My Dad and Guy were great friends. Once Guy added womens clothes, Tim Curleys mom managed that side of the store.
 
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FHSPSU67

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May 29, 2001
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Has the original HUB downstairs gathering spot been mentioned? I lived off the 35-cent cheesesteak. and cheeseburger platters,, and usually put a buck into the jukebox.
 

PSU1969A

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Nov 3, 2021
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Anybody remember the name of the Italian Restaurant (was not Mario's and Luigi's) on Atherton Street where the Graduate Hotel is now located?
 

NoSoup4U

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Jan 17, 2002
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Bubba's Subs. I think I ate at least 4 per week.

Ye Olde College Diner. Wife and I went there the night we met.

Pennsylvania Pizza. OK, it was awful, but my wife, then girlfriend lived in Hoyt Hall, directly across the street.

Surf Club - $.25 Bay Fries or onion rings. I still have one of the old plastic beer mugs. My daughter has an old t-shirt around somewhere.

Obvious answer -The 'Skeller. Friday sing a long with Chris Mincer.

There was a little Mexican place on Beaver across the street from Penn Tower in the late 80's. I had never had Mixican food in my life before I found that place. The name escapes me.
you need one of these baby's
IMG_3367.jpg
 

Entropy1

Member
Nov 26, 2010
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This thread touched on almost all the Restrauant’s that came and gone. The only other restaurant I remember was a Hardee’s at the corner of Beaver Ave. and Atherton St. in the early to mid 70’s.
 

bbrown

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Jul 26, 2001
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Wow... I think that's even before my time.
This isn't a "favorite" but the Burger King on University Drive is permanently closed. That place was there when my sister was going to PSU in the late 60's.
 

CvilleElksCoach

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Feb 1, 2005
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This isn't a "favorite" but the Burger King on University Drive is permanently closed. That place was there when my sister was going to PSU in the late 60's.
BK opened a store on the Benner Pike. Wendy's is opening in the BK location on UD in the next few months.
 
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bbrown

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BK opened a store on the Benner Pike. Wendy's is opening in the BK location on UD in the next few months.
Yea its not a fastfood place I will miss like say Roy's or Arby's but it had been there for soooo long.
Same with that Arby's. I think that had been there from the 70's as well.
 

Mcidas

Member
Nov 5, 2021
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This thread touched on almost all the Restrauant’s that came and gone. The only other restaurant I remember was a Hardee’s at the corner of Beaver Ave. and Atherton St. in the early to mid 70’s.
Ate there many time during my time @ PSU.
Wasn't there some sort of Italian place in the vicinity of Mr. C's?
Had to walk downstairs?
Memory foggy....must be all the.....studying. :ROFLMAO:
 

JWB389

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May 16, 2017
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Yea its not a fastfood place I will miss like say Roy's or Arby's but it had been there for soooo long.
Same with that Arby's. I think that had been there from the 70's as well.
The fast food angle reminded me of something. KFC in the late 80's had what we always called Buck a Box. 2 pieces of chicken, mashed potato's and roll for $1.00. We ate that for lunch a lot, but I cannot even picture where KFC was/is.
 

manatree

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Oct 6, 2021
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you need one of these baby's
View attachment 189524

Ooofff....... Those fishbowls caused me to give up drinking for about six months. I think I just tasted the end results once again just looking at that thing.
Ate there many time during my time @ PSU.
Wasn't there some sort of Italian place in the vicinity of Mr. C's?
Had to walk downstairs?
Memory foggy....must be all the.....studying. :ROFLMAO:

There used to be a basement Italian place called Ferrara's of Little Italy across the street from the Pugh Street parking garage between College & Beaver. Don't know if that is what you are thinking of or not.
 
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Midnighter

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Jan 22, 2021
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SIAP: French inspired diner to open in former Baby's location..... Seems like a cool idea - menu will have more accessible French restaurant staples (crepes, steak frites) but will also have American favorites too. Would love to see savory Bretagne crepes and French dry cider on the menu. Not a big fan of the name though...

 

manatree

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Oct 6, 2021
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SIAP: French inspired diner to open in former Baby's location..... Seems like a cool idea - menu will have more accessible French restaurant staples (crepes, steak frites) but will also have American favorites too. Would love to see savory Bretagne crepes and French dry cider on the menu. Not a big fan of the name though...


I hope it does well, the town has no diners left. Like you, I’m not a fan of the name, I think they’re overthinking it. In the StateCollege.com piece, the one owner said “I think people will get it when they come in that it’s not just a regular greasy spoon. It’s a buttered spoon.”

The Buttered Spoon. Now there’s your name for a diner.
 

FHSPSU67

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May 29, 2001
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Also just remembered where I had my first legal beer in March 1966 -- The Original Lion's Den with Charlie and George.
 

LafayetteBear

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Nov 30, 2009
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My wife: Train Station and Mr. C's (especially on Thursday nights).
Me: The Skeller. and the Mexican cantina in the Days Inn that was just razed. Forget its name. Cactus something or other?
 

Fortheglory612

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Nov 2, 2021
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My wife: Train Station and Mr. C's (especially on Thursday nights).
Me: The Skeller. and the Mexican cantina in the Days Inn that was just razed. Forget its name. Cactus something or other?
Mad Mex, I have had one too many margaritas there but thankfully it was right across the street from me
 

Waaaaaaaany

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Sep 27, 2005
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I hope it does well, the town has no diners left. Like you, I’m not a fan of the name, I think they’re overthinking it. In the StateCollege.com piece, the one owner said “I think people will get it when they come in that it’s not just a regular greasy spoon. It’s a buttered spoon.”

The Buttered Spoon. Now there’s your name for a diner.
The "Buttered" spoon is a bit bougie for a diner. I'd go with The Larded Spoon
 

TiogaLion

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Oct 31, 2021
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Does anyone remember the chinese restaurant that was a little east of Garner in the late 70's/early 80'S. That place had great food. The owners son was in my major and if he joined a group study session he'd always run to the restaurant around midnight and come back with several quarts of the best food I've ever tasted.