STATE COLLEGE — The hits keep coming to longtime establishments in State College. Ye Olde College Diner may be closing in April if a new owner isn’t found. Either way, the “World-Famous Grilled Stickies’” will remain in production, said owner Dan Rallis.
Rallis plans to move on from “The Diner” in April after his lease is up on the current property. He has owned the diner for 32 years, and said he plans on focusing on his catering business and stickies production.
“It has been a good business through the years, but with the lease up it is time to focus on other things,” said Rallis.
The news comes in the wake of the announced closures to other downtown State College businesses the All-American Rathskeller, Spats and the Fraser Street Deli.
The diner, located on College Avenue, has been in operation since 1933 and used to be open 24 hours a day. Recently, its hours decreased, and it was open only from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the week, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends.
Rallis said he plans to continue making Stickies to be served at other State College locations, such the Corner Room, the Creamy, the Penn Stater, the Nittany Lion Inn and the Waffle Shop. They’ll also be shipped around the world to former Penn Staters who crave a piece of home. He said he will take 15 employees with him to the new production location.
When he started, Rallis said he made 10 trays of Stickies a day, but now makes more than 200. He hopes that by focusing on Stickies at a new location he is building in Boalsburg, the production will be more efficient and result in better quality.
“Really, working in the basement of the diner had its limitations, so with the new location we can have the space and equipment needed to manufacture Stickies and keep up with the demand,” said Rallis.
Interested prospective new owners can stop by Ye Olde College Diner and speak with Rallis, or contact ReMax Realty. He said he would be open to new owners selling Stickies, but that he would need to be involved with that aspect.
