January 28, 2026
Mark and Karen Griffin did not set out to make a statement about the soul of State College this past weekend. They simply followed the kind of Saturday rhythm that has defined life in Happy Valley for generations, a rhythm stitched together by familiar storefronts, friendly faces, and the quiet magic of a town that is home.
Their day began on a solemn note at Our Lady of Victory, attending a funeral and celebrating a life well lived. The service became a reminder of how deeply community matters. Mark marveled at how the Boy Scouts, who had shaped so many of the attendees, served as a connective thread through the stories shared. Even in grief, there was a sense of belonging, of hosts and guests coming together, of people showing up for one another with a loving touch.
Afterward, the Griffins did what many locals instinctively do when they need grounding. They went to The Waffle Shop on West College. A booth, a warm breakfast, and staff who always seem to know how to make a place feel like home.
From there, they wandered down to Anti Fragile, where they picked up a loaf of Gemelli bread, now part of Antifragile Brewing Company, and found themselves in conversation with co-owner John Schaffer. The staff there, like so many downtown, offered the kind of high touch care that turns a simple stop into a moment of connection.
Next came a visit to The Cheese Shoppe, where the aroma of freshly ground beans greeted them before owner Bill did. After doing their own grinding, they left with a few bags of coffee and the kind of easy chit chat that makes errands feel like reunions. Again, the staff made the difference. High touch, warm, and personal.
At Rapid Transit, Mark tried on last year’s Brooks Adrenaline in extra wide. He compared them to the new model, which he admitted felt like walking on air, but he still took the forty-dollar discount on the older pair. The staff knew his stride, his story, and how to guide him. High touch again.
Karen slipped into Looks Hair Design and Spa on Calder Way to pick up a favorite hair product. The staff there, too, offered that same personal care that makes a quick errand feel like visiting friends. And on their walk back to the car near Schlow Library, they ducked into The Growing Tree to browse for a birthday gift for their granddaughter and share a smile with the owner who has helped generations of families find joy on the shelves.
Only then did they head out to Kohl’s on North Atherton. And that is when Mark offered the line that summed up the contrast of the day. “One is Bedford Falls. One is big box in and out.”
It is the old Miller Lite debate, less filling, more taste, except here in Happy Valley the choice is about something deeper. We have both. But only one offers the feeling of belonging, connection, and community investment. Only one offers the high touch care that makes a place not feel like home but be home.
Downtown is not just a place to shop. Downtown is the heart of Happy Valley. It is where hosts and guests meet, where hearts connect, and where the simple act of showing up becomes the glue that holds a community together.
And that is why, as the Griffins’ Day quietly illustrated, money cannot buy you love, but time spent downtown can certainly find it.
So here is to the guests, neighbors, and friends who continually enjoy, support, and love local. And here is to the owners and staff who make it all possible. John, Jay, the Growing Tree crew, Gemelli bread bakers, Bill at The Cheese Shoppe, the team at Rapid Transit, and every local business that keeps this town beating with warmth and welcome.
Explore more of what makes downtown special:
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Celebrate Me Home!
Mark lit up when I told him he could have parked for free too!
