BY ELYSSA GANSER
February 12, 2016
Anyone who visits State College has either been to or knows of The Corner Room Restaurant, located at the intersection of College Avenue and Allen Street. Its long history, which runs parallel to that of the university, began in 1855 as Jack’s Roadhouse, a hotel serving travelers coming to the University and the State College community. Since then this corner location has evolved into eight businesses; The Corner Room, Allen Street Grill, Bill Pickles Tap Room, Zeno’s Pub, Zeno’s 2 Go, Indigo Nightclub, Chumley’s and of course the Hotel itself, all owned and operated by Hotel State College & Company, Inc. The oldest business in the group is The Corner Room, which claimed its spot in 1926 and hasn’t moved since. Also known as “The Traditional Meeting Place Since 1926”, this restaurant is a time-capsule of what State College was like from the days of old. In a town that has seen a lot of change over the years, The Corner Room maintains its original structure and focus on good food and excellent service.
Nestled comfortably in the center of the hustle and bustle of downtown and a straight walk from the heart of Penn State’s campus, it’s no wonder The Corner Room has been around all these years. The Corner Room has a hangout style atmosphere that is family and friend oriented, and exudes a feeling of being simple, clean and traditional.
The location of this restaurant isn’t the only thing that keeps customers coming through the vintage revolving door; the superb staff and affordable menu are two important keystones to the ongoing business success in the community. The Corner Room staff loves what they do, so the next time you stop in feel free to say hi to the general manager, John Briggs, and the kitchen manager, Scott Shive; they’d love to meet you!
The Corner Room offers breakfast, lunch and dinner every day of the week. Most everything on the menu is made from scratch and at prices that won’t break the bank. Stop by at breakfast for the Early Bird Special, which includes two eggs, home fries and toast for $3.29! Or come in for lunch or dinner; The Corner Room’s Rueben sandwich, burgers and Hot Turkey Dinner are key items on the menu. Another favorite is Matty’s Ham a la Corner. It is named after Matty C. Mateer, who was a partner of the Hotel State College and helped found the Hotel Restaurant School at Penn State back in 1937. With a menu full of options, there is something for everyone down at The Corner Room!
For more information on The Corner Room or other businesses owned by Hotel State College & Company click on the logos below.
Elyssa Ganser is a senior majoring in Public Relations at Penn State. She is excited to see what lies ahead as she starts this new chapter in her life. Elyssa discovered her passion for writing after working for School Nutrition Magazine last summer, where she wrote articles and edited content for upcoming editions of the monthly magazine.
