The vast majority of Nittany Mall sits empty, a fate shared by malls across America in the Amazon age. But with Happy Valley Casino set to open this month, some shopkeepers are keeping their fingers crossed for a small comeback.
“When the casino came, that was a big push,” said Ling Vu, a supervisor at the three-week-old Nue Head Spa. Vu said the spa’s owners were looking to open in State College, and the mall presented an opportunity.
Bisected by T-Mobile, the spa is timing its grand opening to coincide with that of the casino. Asked if it would have opened in the mall if not for the casino, Vu said, “Probably not.”
