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State College, PA – Gary Brandeis, President of the Scholar Hotel Group, cut the Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County‘s bright green ribbon in front of the Scholar Hotel (205 E. Beaver Ave, State College), while surrounded by Scholar team members, representatives from Leonard S. Fiore Inc., Downtown State College Improvement District (DSCID), The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau (HVAB), and Hilton.
“We opened in January,” noted Brandeis. “We wanted to push (the official grand opening) to a time when there was a lot more activity in State College.”
The bustle of a Penn State home game weekend was apparent with guests clad in blue and white entering the hotel, walking by on the sidewalk, and even cheering as traffic drove past the ceremony.
“Thank you to Gary – to you and your partners – for investing in downtown State College,” acknowledged Fritz Smith, President/CEO of HVAB. “We still have a few hotel rooms open (for this weekend), available in the county, so come on up and stay a day early or stay a day late to enjoy the Central PA Tasting Trail.”
The building was recently converted into an extended stay hotel with 72 guest rooms by Leonard S. Fiore, Inc.
“It is exciting to welcome the business community to our Grand Opening celebration at the Scholar Hotel,” explained Michael Balchin, Director of Sales. “We were very fortunate to have the support we had in 2021 as we introduced an extended-stay hotel to downtown State College and welcomed guests to Penn State.”
The Scholar features a bistro, Social Food + Drink, with thematic drinks like Nittany Nectar and Tailgate Tea, as well as a tempting selection of food from wings and burgers to charcuterie and flatbreads. There is also a 1,300 square foot meeting room that can accommodate up to 84 people.
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“We just want to welcome the Scholar, we love this building,” added Lee Anne Jeffries, Executive Director of DSCID, nodding to the building’s historic background.
The hotel is the newest resident of the Glennland Building, built in 1933 and the first in the area to feature an indoor swimming pool; it is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The hotel lobby honors this history with beautiful black-and-white photographs that are strikingly juxtaposed against the hotel’s modern blue and white interior.
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“We are thrilled to have the Scholar Hotel, A Tapestry Collection by Hilton, opening here,” explained Robert Giardino, Senior Director of Franchise Development in the NorthEast for Hilton Worldwide.
General Manager, Jill Rutherford, is looking forward to the property’s first football season.
“It has been great introducing guests to our new downtown property and showcasing our extended stay hotel,” added Rutherford.
To learn more, book a room or meeting space, or submit an application to this expanding team, please visit the Scholar‘s website.