While sitting in your hometown, you may be missing your favorite State College hotspots. From coffee shops to bars and stores, downtown State College becomes our environment as students, and is something that can be difficult to leave, especially during times of uncertainty.
With most Penn State students out of town or even out of the state, State College businesses will be very quiet for a while, and now more than ever, it is important to support them.
Champs Downtown
Champs is one of the most popular bars in State College, from the newly created Bachelor Monday’s, to the classic My Hero Zero Friday’s. Even the Jonas Brothers love Champs, so it’s safe to say it’s a Happy Valley hotspot.
As of March 24, the bar’s online store, featuring various Penn State apparel and bar-specific merchandise, is offering free shipping and donating all proceeds to employees who are out of work due to mandatory closures across the state. There’s no better time to score a “Basketball School” or “State vs. Everybody” T-shirt — ideal attire for any Zoom class.
Irving’s
Voted State College Magazine’s Best Bagel and Best Breakfast Sandwich, Irving’s is certainly a go-to breakfast and study spot. If you’re tackling remote learning from your State College house or apartment, fear not; you can still pick up your favorite bagels and drinks.
If you find yourself further away, though, consider an e-gift card, which will help support the business and give you something to look forward to for when we all return to the 814. Your Sunday morning post-game day self will probably thank you.
Connections Clothing
Bored inside and looking for some new clothes for the upcoming summer? Before you dive right into browsing the site of a larger retail store, consider supporting a local option with many unique pieces for the warmer months, all from your couch!
Connections Clothing, a women’s boutique located on Allen Street, has an online store with items from Free People and other popular brands. Scoring summer trends while practicing social distancing = a win-win situation for all involved.
Saint’s Cafe
Saint’s is arguably one of the most aesthetically pleasing coffee shops in downtown State College, and with freshly-made pastries and endless coffee options, there’s truly something for everyone.
While we’re all staying at home and finding creative ways to get a caffeine fix, consider purchasing a coffee blend from Saint’s to make at home. Through the cafe’s online store, you can buy bags of their unique blends to share with family at home, a perfect pick-me-up while working on remote learning assignments.
While being away from school can present challenges, there are many ways to bring Happy Valley to you! For now, supporting local businesses is one of the best things we can do to support our home away from home until we all meet again.
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