A new pasta palace is coming to State College, hoping to try its luck on a lot that has been a revolving door of business in recent years.
Noodles and Company is next in line at the 244 W. College Ave location, set to open in August.
According to its website, Noodles offers ‘a warm, welcoming environment for relaxing between meetings, or while waiting to pick-up after the kids’ youth sports practice.’
That’s in direct contrast to the bar scene from 797 Lounge and the Sports Cafe, the previous businesses to hold court in the location.
Neither was able to gain a solid footing at the end of College Avenue’s main strip, prompting a running joke that no business can find success there after former Penn State linebacker LaVar Arrington cursed it.
Arrington was planning to take over the Sports Cafe in 2008 before a deal fell through.
‘I hope the plague falls upon the Sports Cafe,’ Arrington said at the time, adding, ‘I hope it’s rat infested. Frickin’ roach infested.’
Noodles hopes for better fortune.
