04-04-2025
Town Pride State College becomes first storefront from Calder Way Pop-Up program
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (WTAJ) — A downtown retail experiment aimed at supporting local entrepreneurs has reached a new milestone as Town Pride State College becomes the first business to transition from the Calder Way Pop-Up program to a permanent storefront.
The store's grand opening is set for April 5 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 240 E. Calder Way, inviting the community to celebrate the latest addition to the downtown shopping scene.
The Calder Way Pop-Up program, launched in June 2024 by the Downtown State College Improvement District (DSCID) and Comet Properties, provides a low-risk retail space for small businesses to test their concepts and build customer bases. Each vendor gets a limited run in the space, but the goal is to help them transition into a long-term location.
Town Pride State College, owned by Lisa Farren, joined the initiative in September 2024. During her time in the pop-up space, Farren refined her business model and gained a loyal customer following, paving the way for this expansion into a full-time storefront.
'This is more than a grand opening—it's a success story,' Kendra Kielbasa, retail and business advocate for DSCID, said.
The Calder Way Pop-Up remains active, continuing to serve as an incubator for new businesses. More vendors are expected to follow in Town Pride's footsteps, further strengthening the downtown economy.
For more details on the pop-up program and upcoming vendors, visit
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