They feed our community, create our culture, and carry quiet burdens. Bubba’s Eggs, Steaks and Shakes is the latest to show up for us.
By Greg Woodman
We’ve all seen the hashtags and window signs: Shop Local. Eat Local. Love Local.
But real support for locally owned restaurants, retail stores, and music venues cannot live in slogans.
And it cannot survive on one “Shop Local Saturday” a year.
It has to happen every week, at the table, in the aisles, on Main Street, and through everyday decisions where heart meets habit.
Because right now, people like Brian and Brianna Stroh, the father-daughter team behind Bubba’s Eggs, Steaks and Shakes, are putting everything on the line to keep places like this alive.
A legacy location, now with a new chapter
On Monday, October 27, Bubba’s begins its soft opening in the classic diner space at 131 South Garner Street. Many remember this address as the longtime home of Baby’s, followed briefly by Olaf’s. It is a corner filled with memories and now a new invitation.
Bubba’s is not a revival. It is an evolution.
Like Doggie’s Pub honored the Skellar, Bubba’s embraces the past while stepping into what is needed now.
The heart behind the plates
Owner Brian Stroh, formerly of The Daily Grind in Altoona, brings experience, soul, and hospitality to Happy Valley. That restaurant earned a devoted following, and when it closed, the sadness was real.
Now, he is joined by his daughter Brianna, building something new from scratch. The name Bubba’s comes from Brian’s fifth-grade football nickname. Bubba hangs proudly on the wall of a diner that will serve more than food. It serves community and connection.
What to expect
Bubba’s is open daily from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM, offering:
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, all made from scratch.
- Slab-cut bacon and sausage from a local butcher.
- Milkshakes and comfort food in a nostalgic, warm setting
- Interior design by Justin Baughman featuring curated vintage Penn State and State College memorabilia.
- 1950s music playing throughout the day to complete the vibe.
Brianna describes it simply. They are bringing a whole new level of breakfast while restoring that diner-style experience we’ve missed.
The burden they carry.
It is easy to sit down to a hot plate or browse a small shop and forget what it takes to keep the lights on.
Locally owned restaurants, stores, and venues face incredible challenges:
- Complicated regulations
- Rising minimum wages and cost of labor
- Increased prices on staples like eggs, coffee beans, and paper goods
- Tariffs, supply delays, and rent hikes.
- Staffing shortages, burnout, and long hours
Most are working with razor-thin margins and sheer grit. Some local newspapers have become nonprofit just to survive. That could become the path for our most cherished local businesses too.
Or we can choose to invest in them now.
Don’t be penny wise and value foolish.
Too often, we chase small savings and lose out on deeper value.
We skip the corner dinner or downtown shop for something faster or cheaper.
But what we are really buying when we choose local is experience, culture, and memory.
We say we will go next weekend. But sometimes next weekend is too late.
As the song says, you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.
We can nurture these places, or watch paradise become just another parking lot.
Bubba’s is just the beginning.
Many new restaurants, shops, and venues have opened in Happy Valley this year.
They are not just opening businesses.
They are placing their trust in us.
Bubba’s is the latest to open its doors and ask the question:
Will you come in?
Let’s go beyond likes and hashtags.
Let’s eat the meal.
Let’s visit the shop.
Let’s invite others.
Let’s keep these places alive.
A final word from Connect HappyValley
The economy that feeds these local businesses is fueled by both locals and visitors. Whether you are a weekend traveler, a student, or a lifelong resident, your presence makes a difference. The goal is heat in the seats, customers in the shops, and energy in the streets all year long. That is how we lift all boats.
Whether it is a food truck, a boutique, or a tiny espresso bar, every entrepreneur is working hard to balance product, price, place, and promotion. At Connect HappyValley, we are proud to amplify their stories. Behind every storefront is a human being choosing courage over certainty.
To every locally owned restaurant, live music venue, and retail shop, this is your moment of recognition. You create culture. You build community. You are the heartbeat of this place.
My plea is simple.
Do not close one more day just to make it work.
I would rather put heat in your seats and heads in your beds.
Let’s grow together instead of shrinking apart.
Let’s choose abundance over scarcity.
That belief is at the center of Connect HappyValley.
We connect your heart to the heart of the community.
