By Cecilia Sciullo | July 15, 2026
You might not find Ronnie Napolitan behind the counter at Rothrock Coffee. On any given morning, he could just as easily be at the Rothrock roasting facility on North Atherton Street prepping a new batch of beans before they ever reach South Atherton Street. Rothrock isn’t just a coffee shop. It’s also a roasting operation, and that matters more than you might think, because the roasting side shows up in the coffee, the training, and the way the whole place operates.
Walk into the cafe itself, located in Creekside Plaza, and you’ll find a third place with regulars parked at tables and familiar faces at the counter.
Quick Facts: Rothrock Coffee
📍 Address: 1736 S Atherton Street, State College, PA 16801 🕐 Hours: Monday to Saturday, 7am to 3pm | Sunday, 8am to 2pm 💲 Price Range: $$ 📶 Wifi: Available 🔌 Outlets: Available, but not at every seat 🚗 Parking: Creekside Plaza lot 🐾 Pets: Not allowed 🛍️ Merch: Available 🔗 Find them: [Website] | Facebook | Instagram
The Story
Rothrock Coffee, named after Rothrock State Forest, opened in 2015, founded by Jamie Bestwick and Ronnie Napolitan. When they moved into their location, it looked different than it does now. Sheetz hadn’t opened yet and Giant also came along a little later. For them, it was a practical location: Jamie’s wife owns PYP Studio, located in the same plaza. As a bonus, the studio’s clientele has become a steady stream of regulars who stop in after class.
The bigger idea behind Rothrock was never just to open a coffee shop. As Ronnie explained, the goal was to bring specialty coffee, and a better product, to State College. There were already plenty of coffee companies and suppliers in town, but Rothrock wanted to build something with two layers: a cafe people could sit in, and a wholesale roasting operation that could supply quality coffee across Centre County.
That wholesale side has grown well beyond the neighborhood. Rothrock roasts coffee for medical centers, downtown businesses, other coffee shops, offices, and restaurants including The Tavern and The Corner Room. They supply coffee as far as Maine.
The Third Place Test
In our first piece on State College’s coffee shop scene, we laid out a few questions worth asking about any spot that claims to be a true third place. Here’s how Rothrock holds up.
Does it give you a reason to linger? Seating is first-come, first-served, and mornings fill up fast. On a recent Wednesday, a seat was easy to find at 8am but much harder to come by an hour later. When it’s busy, sharing a table with a stranger is the norm, not an inconvenience.
Does the staff know you? Ronnie says he recognizes most of the people who walk through the door and have had conversations, or shared a cup of coffee, with nearly all of them. During one visit, he broke off mid-conversation to greet a couple at the next table over, people he clearly already knew well.
Is there something happening beyond the coffee? The roasting side of the business means Rothrock’s baristas are trained carefully, and every coffee the shop selects and roasts is tasted and scored before it makes the menu. It’s a process most customers never see, but it shapes what ends up in the cup.
Does it have a real identity? Rothrock’s name, its ties to the state forest, its roots as a family and community business, and its role as a wholesale supplier all give it a footprint that goes well beyond one storefront.
What to Order
The best seller is a classic latte, no flavoring. Ronnie’s own go-to is even simpler: a plain filter coffee. If you’re looking for something beyond espresso drinks, the smoothies are worth a try. I have a friend in Pittsburgh who makes a point to stop for their avocado toast every time she is in town. They’re easy items to overlook on a menu built around coffee, but regulars know better.
They also do special releases and seasonal coffee drops, giving you reasons to try different coffees throughout the year.
The Vibe
Expect a steady rotation of professionals, students, and longtime locals, many of them there to meet up rather than just grab a drink and go. Weekends bring families, including Ronnie’s own kids. The music leans familiar and unhurried. During one visit, Corinne Bailey Rae’s “Girl Put Your Records On” was playing over the speakers, which fits the general mood of the place. Rothrock is more than just a place to get coffee, it is a third place with its unique vibes and story.
Rothrock Coffee is just the first stop.
Take your own tour, and find your space.
Know a coffee shop that deserves the deep dive treatment? Tell us at csciullo22@gmail.com and we might stop there next.
