What’s opening and what’s closing? Check out Centre County business news from June

Matt Hymowitz
·2 min read

A new fireworks store opened just in time for July Fourth and plans were announced for a new doughnut shop and hotel. Here’s a roundup of Centre County business news in June.

What’s opening

  • Wholesale Fireworks opened at 2000 E. College Ave. at the former Sheetz near Lemont. The permanent fireworks store offers about 350 different products.

Wholesale Fireworks is now open at 2000 E. College Ave., the former Sheetz near Lemont.
Wholesale Fireworks is now open at 2000 E. College Ave., the former Sheetz near Lemont.

  • Owners Jon and Meredith Houser announced plans to open Bellefonte Brick Studio, an independent Lego store, on July 1 at 104 N. Allegheny St. The store’s hours are 10 a.m to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.

  • Dunkin’ will open a second downtown State College location this fall. The doughnut chain plans a store at 141 S. Garner St., formerly a Starbucks. The Dunkin’ at 200 W. College Ave. will continue to operate alongside the new store.

  • A Tru by Hilton hotel is planned in the area of the Benner Pike interchange of Interstate 99. Hospitality Asset Management Co. — also known as Lion Country Lodging — will manage the 98-room property.

  • A groundbreaking ceremony was held to celebrate the State College Food Bank’s new location. The food bank expects to move fully into its new space at 169 Gerald St., State College — the former home of Apple Hill Antiques — by March when renovations are complete. Apple Hill Antiques is now open in the former Tubbies Bedroom location at 2221 E. College Ave.

  • Eyes on the Diamond, 104 W. Main St. in Boalsburg, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate its new ownership. Drs. Whitney Territo and Scott Bauer provide primary care optometry for patients of all ages and treat conditions such as macular degeneration and glaucoma.

  • Old Pop’s Corny Village Emporium, 1374 Troy Hawk Run Highway, Philipsburg, held a ribbon-cutting ahead of its official opening in mid-July. Owners Mark and Grace Crompton will sell a wide array of items: local crafts, snacks and coffee in the front of the store; bait and tackle in the back; frozen yogurt in a different section of the shop; and moonshine in an addition to the building modeled after a speakeasy.

What’s closing

Sheetz plans to close its store at 139 S. Pugh St. in downtown State College by the end of July. The location opened in 2015.

Sheetz will close its store at 139 S. Pugh St. in State College by the end of July.
Sheetz will close its store at 139 S. Pugh St. in State College by the end of July.

In brief

Big Spring Spirits, which operates out of Bellefonte’s Match Factory, won double gold at the New York International Spirits Competition for its American Whiskey. Double gold is the highest possible recognition at the competition and is given to spirits that receive gold ratings from every judge. Out of 1,400 entries, only 39 whiskeys were awarded double gold.