Ye Olde College Diner may close, but iconic Penn State treat will live on

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Since the Depression era, it has been a comfort-food port-in-the-ivory-towerstorm for students, townies and alumni alike at Penn State University, and it may soon close its doors for good. However, its signature product will live on.

According to a Tuesday night report from WTAJ-TV in Altoona, Ye Olde College Diner — a fixture on College Avenue — may close but will continue to produce its iconic Grilled Sticky Buns at a new bakery facility in nearby Boalsburg, Pa.

Dan Rallis, owner of the 24-hour diner, told the CBS affiliate that the lease expires in April 21, but it could close by April 1 if no one steps in to take over the business. He cited increasing costs and an inability to keep up with demand for the Sticky Buns — he makes 200 trays a day — which are sold at several other State College restaurants and supermarkets and are shipped worldwide.

Mr. Rallis was unavailable for comment on Wednesday.

The New York Times described the Stickies as “an elongated cinnamon roll that, after baking, is reheated on a greased grill and served piping hot, sometimes with ice cream on top.” They were featured in Rick Sebak’s 1993 documentary “Pennsylvania Diners & Other Roadside Restaurants.”

“The Diner,” as it is affectionately called, has had a number of slight name changes, various owners and numerous renovations and additions since it opened in 1929, first on nearby Beaver Avenue as the College Diner, by Russ Adamitz, who ran it for 43 years. According to diner historian and Heinz History Center director of publications Brian Butko, Mr. Adamitz moved the silver stainless steel diner, manufactured by the Ward & Dickinson Dining Car Company of Silver Creek, N.Y., to its current location a year later.

“I’m really sorry to hear the diner might close,” Mr. Butko said. “Any time I ate there, it was always so alive, day or night. The diner has been an integral part of the town for generations and carries that air of authenticity that you want when searchingout a cool place to eat.”

Ye Olde College Diner is among a raft of longtime businesses in downtown State College on the verge of closing. In December the owners of the Rathskeller said they would close the iconic 85-year-old downtown pub along with adjoining restaurant Spats as early as February if an agreement could not be reached with the building’s owners.