Over the past decade, something remarkable has been happening in Pine Grove Mills. What was once a quiet crossroads of farmland and forests has transformed into one of Centre County’s most inspiring stories of local entrepreneurship, food, and culture. It’s all driven by neighbors serving neighbors.
It began in 2013, when the beloved Watkins Dariette was reimagined as The Naked Egg Café, a regional breakfast staple that draws a loyal following and provides meaningful employment to local residents.
Then came 2020. In the heart of the village, the historic Odd Fellows Hall and Old Oak Tavern were brought back to life as Pine Grove Hall, a restaurant and live music venue. Since its launch, Pine Grove Hall has hosted over 850 live performances, including 170 in 2025 alone. It’s not just a venue; it’s an engine of creativity, supporting hundreds of musicians and dozens of local vendors, sound engineers, and artists.
Next door, Flour & Stone, Pine Grove Hall’s sister restaurant, opened in 2024. It offers fresh, vibrant meals and a takeout window. Together, these two businesses now employ more than 40 people, making them among the largest private employers in Pine Grove Mills.
And the story keeps unfolding.
Centre Markets, housed in a beautifully restored 1850s building at 112 W. Pine Grove Road, is set to open next month. It will feature local produce, baked goods, meats, dairy, prepared foods, and artisanal goods, becoming a hub for the village’s growing food economy. Its second phase, Centre Kitchen Collective, will launch as a nonprofit shared commercial kitchen. It will provide space for emerging food entrepreneurs, culinary training, and community meal programs.
In 2024, Azul Blanca Med Spa opened its doors at 253 E. Pine Grove Road, adding a new layer to the village’s revival focused on wellness, beauty, and self-care. Owned and operated by Kimberly A. Muffie, the spa exemplifies the expanding diversity of services flourishing in the area.
And now, civic life is getting a boost as well. The newly launched Pine Grove Mills Village Association, led by Mackenzie Ami Yamamoto-Lane, brings together residents, businesses, and civic leaders to coordinate beautification, plan community events, and shape the village’s future. This helps keep its small-town soul alive even as it grows.
Perhaps the most powerful part of Pine Grove Mills’ story is this: every one of these ventures has been created and sustained by local owners, not outside investors. These entrepreneurs work in their businesses every day, serve their neighbors face to face, and are deeply invested in the community’s success.
From a revived Dariette to a flourishing food and music corridor, from a new wellness sanctuary to a collective village vision, Pine Grove Mills is proving that small places can make an enormous impact.
This is revitalization and economic development done right. One plate, one performance, one business, and one act of community at a time.
