A downtown State College cheesesteak shop is reopening under new owners and a new name.
Penn Steaks, 119 S. Pugh St., will hold a grand opening from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday. The restaurant was previously known as Campus Steaks since it opened in 2023 under different owners.
The grand opening will include complimentary samples, a new menu preview, tailgate-inspired giveaways, T-shirts, meet-and-greets with the owners and staff and more.
Penn Steaks “honors the legacy of its predecessor,” while also introducing some changes, most notably using ribeye as the standard for cheesesteaks and baking bread fresh on site daily.
“Campus Steaks was a favorite for a reason,” JJ Bowman, one of the five local owners of Penn Steaks, said in a statement. “We loved what it meant to the community, and we knew that with the same talented kitchen crew and some thoughtful upgrades, we could carry that spirit forward while making it even better.”
The restaurant will offer a menu centered on ribeye and chicken cheesesteaks, freshly baked hoagie rolls and classic sides, such as fries with a variety of dipping sauce options. It will be open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday and 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
In addition to walk in orders, the shop will have local delivery through Uber Eats, Grub Hub and DoorDash and the Penn Steaks app (which will offer a $5 discount on customers’ second order), as well as catering and tailgate packages.
The former Campus Steaks opened under three owners, with co-owner Joe Ford involved in day-to-day operations. Ford was sentenced in April to 15 to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges that his Philadelphia-area electrical contracting company defrauded dozens of customers.
While the new owners of Penn Steaks said that they will retain much of Campus Steaks’ menu and recipes, they hinted that new offerings are coming soon.
“We’re just getting started,” Bowman said. “The response so far has been incredible, and we’re excited to grow with the town.”
Bowman and his wife, Holly, are both State High and Penn State alumni who have lived a few blocks from the Penn Steaks location for 25 years. They’re among the five owners with deep ties to State College and Penn State.
Brad Dillman is a Penn State grad and parent of two current students who recently returned to the area after three decades in California.
“We’re not just opening a cheesesteak shop — we’re building a place that reflects the spirit and tradition of Penn State,” Dillman said. “There’s a sense of belonging here — like ‘Cheers,’ but for a college town. Our goal is to serve more than food; we want to offer connection and comfort in every visit.”
The owners also include Eric Throne, who moved back to State College with his wife and fellow Penn State Smeal College of Business grad, Inga, after 30 years in Texas and Colorado; Jeff Goldberg, a third-generation Penn State alum who with his wife, Jeanine (also a PSU grad), has maintained a home in State College for nearly 20 years; and Fred Dailey, a lifelong State College resident and longtime owner of Dailey’s Lawn Care.
“I’ve lived here my whole life, and my wife, Bonnie, and I have always wanted to do more for the town we love,” Dailey said. “Penn Steaks gives us the chance to do just that.”
