New Food Truck Aims to Offer Quality Food at Affordable Prices From a Permanent Spot in Penns Valley

A new community-focused food truck has taken up residence at a permanent spot in Penns Valley, where its owner is committed to serving up quality food at reasonable prices.

Offering signature paninis, subs, pierogies, breakfast sandwiches and more, veteran Centre County businesswoman Marie Librizzi opened Liberty Eats in late May at 2658 Earlystown Road, Centre Hall, where it is permanently stationed.

Librizzi has operated multiple restaurants in the State College area, including as the original owner of the Pump Station in Boalsburg, the former Sadie’s Gourmet Waffles in downtown State College and The Gathering Family Restaurant once located in the Nittany Mall. She was also a long-time co-owner of Old Main Frame Shop & Gallery in State College.

But, she said, she has an affinity for Penns Valley and its people, so when she was developing the idea for her new venture, that’s where she wanted it to be.

“The people here when I ran for [Centre County] commissioner were extraordinary supporters and I really wanted to give back to them,” Librizzi said. “What I wanted was something that was very reasonable in price, high quality, organic food.”

Librizzi’s original plan was for a brick-and-mortar restaurant, but she said that when agricultural zoning made that too difficult, she pivoted to a trailer and got in touch with the owner of the lot where Liberty Eats is now located.

“It actually ended up being perfect,” she said. “The gentleman that owns the property has like 700 to 800 acres here, and it is just incredible. Every day we get to look at the beauty of this valley.”

Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, Liberty Eats will operate year-round.

Librizzi’s team spent about a year putting the menu together for the new business.

Paninis are the signature seller, with choices of grilled cheese with mozzarella, cheddar and American; ham and cheddar with pickles; Buffalo chicken; and the especially popular turkey and avocado with sundried tomatoes and cream cheese and chicken pesto with mozzarella and sundried tomatoes. Subs include another of Liberty Eats specialties, meatball, the popular chicken salad and tuna salad.

All paninis and subs are $8.95 and come with a side of coleslaw. Librizzi also noted that Liberty Eats absorbs fees on credit card purchases.

“Just to be able to buy an incredible panini or meatball sub or chicken salad sub for $8.95, and it includes coleslaw — our prices are considerably less than anybody else’s,” she said.

Lunch and dinner options also include hot dogs for $1.50 with the option of a mexi-hot beef sauce made in-house, as well as seven pierogies for $7.95 and 10-ounce mac and cheese for $7.95.

Breakfast includes bagels with butter, cream cheese or Nutella ranging from $2.75 to $3.75, peanut butter, banana and honey for $4.25 and bacon, egg and cheese for $4.25.

All of the bagels are 4-inch water bagels brought in from New York, part of Liberty Eats’ emphasis on quality, Librizzi said.

“I am all about the rolls,” she said. “The bread makes the sandwich.”

While much of Liberty Eats’ menu is made in-house or with proprietary recipes, it also offers a couple of regional favorites: Donut holes from Mammy’s Donut Shop in Rebersburg and sticky buns from Williamsport-based Mr. Sticky’s.

Librizzi has more plans in the works. In the fall, the food truck will offer homemade soups like stuffed green pepper for $7.95.

And from September through the end of October, Liberty Eats will host community events with sausage and pepper sandwiches served on the deck, music and games. Librizzi said she is connecting with local nonprofit organizations to take part in the festivities, and the events will offer opportunities for vendors to sell their wares and crafts, with no charge to participate.

“We want a place for people to be able to bring their kids, a safe place,” Librizzi said. “It’s something that’s fun. I mean, that’s really what we’re all about. We want to be all about the community. It’s just that simple.”

As for the business name, it fits well with the history of military service in Librizzi’s family, including her own in the Coast Guard Auxiliary. But it was originally inspired by her best friend’s dog, named Liberty, who appears on the trailer and menus.

“She’s our spokesperson,” Librizzi said with a laugh.