Get ready Centre County, Quaker Steak and Lube is on its way — again.
After a short hiatus in Centre County, a Quaker Steak and Lube is set to open along the Benner Pike where Carmike Cinemas 6 used to be. The popular restaurant, known for its wings, is scheduled to open sometime in October, according to co-owner Ral Merchant.
“We’re on track for October … that’s what we’re shooting for,” said Merchant. “We’re progressing well, so we expect October, though I can’t pinpoint a date.”
Quaker Steak and Lubes traditionally have their grand openings on Wednesdays.
Merchant is a partner in Druzak Merchant, Inc., which will open a total of three Quaker Steak and Lube restaurants in Pennsylvania this year.
“We’re thrilled to expand our presence in Pennsylvania and enter the market with Druzak Merchant Inc., and introduce more guests to our unique motorsports themed dining experience,” John Longstreet, president and chief executive officer, Quaker Steak & Lube said in a news release.
“We are on our way to doubling our current footprint of nearly 50 restaurants, and this aggressive expansion and continued industry high average unit volume would not be possible without our dedicated area developers at Druzak Merchant Inc. who are committed to the company’s success.”
The original Quaker Steak and Lube was built in 1974 in an abandoned gas station in Sharon, Pa. It began as a cook-your-own steak restaurant, before expanding to over 40 locations throughout the United States and Canada.
The unique décor includes race cars suspended from the ceilings, motorcycles, Corvettes and gas station memorabilia. Wings are the specialty at The Lube. The chain has won hundreds of national and international awards for its wings and 20 different wing sauces. Most recently it was named the Festival Favorite at the National Buffalo Wing Festival in Buffalo, N.Y.
Quaker Steak and Lube’s popularity has made it one of the fastest-growing restaurant chains in the nation. In 2011, the company opened six new restaurants. In 2012, it opened a dozen more. The closest Quaker Steak and Lube is located in Johnstown.
Fans of Quaker Steak and Lube will remember the old location, which was located at 2235 N. Atherton St. in State College. Otto’s Pub and Brewery now occupies that spot.
“We feel like we’ll do a better job this time around. We’ve got a great management team in place,” Merchant said.
According to Merchant, JDK management out of Bloomsburg will manage the facility.
When Merchant was looking for a location in Centre County, he discovered the old movie theater. He immediately fell in love with the spot.
“We felt like that side of town would be a great spot. We know that side of town is growing,” he said. “We liked the idea of sharing space with Advance Auto (Parts) and Big Lots. Converting a movie theater did present some challenges.”
Merchant hopes that Quaker Steak and Lube will fill a void and become a popular destination for Penn State football fans before and after home games and of course, when the Nittany Lions are on the road.
“We want to be the place to be,” Merchant said. “We’re going to get involved in the community and be a really good neighbor.”
Click HERE For more information about Quaker Steak and Lube.
