State College, PA– College students seem migrate towards chain restaurants such as Chipotle, Noodles and Company and Five Guys. This is due to the fact that chain restaurants in college towns seem to be convenient and their food items are low in cost to appeal to its money-struggling college students. Although this may be the case, after I conducted a street survey, I found out that Penn State students seem to favor tradition rather than convenience.
The majority of students I surveyed said that they preferred traditional, home cooked meals rather than fast and convenient food and the crowd favorite happened to be one of the most traditional restaurants in State College: the Ye Olde College Diner.
The Ye Olde College diner was built and created in 1929. It is located on West College Avenue between Allen and Fraser Streets and is considered an extremely traditional landmark to State College and Penn State University.
“It is so neat to see alumni bring their families and wives back here when they come up for weekends,” Kelsey a server at the diner, said. “They get so excited and start reminiscing about the late nights they spent here when they went to Penn State twenty years ago.”
Not only does the Ye Olde College Diner serve as tradition for many nostalgic alumni, it also serves as a tradition within itself.
The Ye Olde College Diner’s best-selling menu item and hot commodity happens to be the “World’s Greatest Stickies”. The diner still to this day, makes, rolls and packages each box of “Stickies” every day in their bakery, by hand.
“It really keeps the tradition alive,” said manager, Asia. “I think it keeps people coming back for more.”
Not only does the Ye Olde College Diner sell their signature “Stickies” at their front counter, but distribute them to local business as well, including the Berkey Creamery on Penn State’s campus.
“The Stickies go really well with vanilla ice cream, so of course we’re going to have the Creamery on board with them as well.” Asia said.
All in all, convenience may be quicker and cheaper, but college students could receive that from any chain restaurant. When they are away from their families at college, all they want is to find their home-away-from-home. That perfect place is found on West College Avenue at the Ye Olde College Diner.
The “World Famous Stickies” topped with vanilla ice cream