Visited this Trader Joe's on a Tuesday around 7pm. There was an under 5 minute wait to get into the…read morestore. The store was clean and had many holiday items stocked. The store associates sanitize the carts immediately when they are returned. There are also wipes located near the entrance and hand sanitizer. I liked that they control how many people enter the store. It allows for social distancing and makes you feel more comfortable shopping and looking at items before deciding whether to purchase or not. My friend had to speak with the manager about a previous purchase and the manager was very nice and accommodating.

To preface this, I'm from Southern California. So Trader Joe's as a necessity to my existence is…read morelike scrapple to a central Pennsylvanian. It's just the way out maker intended things to be. Fast forward to me moving to Hershey for grad school from my delicate life surrounded by Trader Joe's, Sprouts, etc in the bosom of Orange County, CA and I was shocked, saddened, and defeated. This wonderful area that I now called home had two Trader Joe's "in my area", one being in Towson, MD and the other being in Philadelphia. Luckily, as I traveled back home to California during holidays, I'd be lucky enough to fly into and out of one of those airports so I'd make it a ritual to stop by TJs on my way home as long as I flew in before they closed. Still though, going to TJs once every few months isn't ideal. So imagine my delight when I'm driving to my clinical rotation site at State College, and what do I see - Trader mutha$#*in' JOE'S. I'm only up here for 5 weeks total, but I've gone here every single day so far. I've probably spent about $500 in the last four weeks. I love this place. It's exactly how Trader Joe's should be: bright, inviting, clean, and with an excellent selection of food and goods. Hell, even the staff is as jovial as the ones back home, which is proof that they have incredible system-wide hiring practices. If you're in the area, go to Trader Joe's. Just bask in the glory of the wonderful stuff that they have. Pro tip: if you're going to do one thing to elevate your charcuterie game, make it the herb-crusted Chèvre goat cheese and grab a jar or the hot and sweet pepper jelly. Crackers are your choice. But do yourself this favor. Cheers!

Never had bad quality food here. Fruit & vegetables are a bit pricey but the quality is much…read morepreferred to anything I'd try to get fresh from Walmart. Associates were very helpful and the lady named Jenny who was helping me at the beer register was a hoot who gave me friendly/ kind service. Store was clean and although groceries were a bit more expensive then what I like you get what you pay for so I'll be back.

I like this store, they generally have good things…read more   But, they ahh, are deceptive.  The fresh bagels are not cooked fresh there, but arrive frozen and defrosted to be fresh [there was a photo, I hope it stays up].  I have purchased frozen bagels in the fresh bakery section.  I think this is at best deceptive and at worst, dishonest.  Fresh does not mean fresh from frozen in my book.  At least the worker (AND THE MANAGER!) did not lie or evade the question that yes, they were frozen, and I think they died a little inside as they had to argue that that frozen bagel was fresh in some realistic or wholesome way.   So, worth going to, but, now it is store policy to ask for your drivers license to get the store card and to require the store card. without the store card, things can be significantly more expensive. why do I want to have my purchases recorded? I don't, so I wont' go back. won't go back? 1 star.

If you know McClanahan's, then you know, they have everything. This downtown location is in a very…read moreconvenient location and has pretty much everything you could possibly need at a convenience store. Really gigantic! We needed some beers to go on the way to the annual white out football game and were able to score a couple pounders for six dollars. Pretty reasonable if you ask me. There is a separate register for beer and wine sales so make sure you head there. We didn't shop or order any food here, but those are good options for those in need.

What genuinely happened to this place? I was a weekly customer at this deli for the last two years,…read moreand suddenly they refuse to toast sandwiches, blatantly lie about not having baguettes (despite giving baguettes to the people right in front of us), and wouldn't even cut the sandwich when I asked. Just last December, the quality was excellent and the staff were genuine. Now it feels like a filthy money grab. I'm extremely disappointed in this establishment.

Very impressed with the variety at this international market. Many times stores claim to be…read more"international" but only really supply items for one culture with the exception of two or three products. That's not so with this International Market in State College! They had a plethora of Mediterranean, South American, Asian, and European products. Another great thing is it is somewhat organized by region, so you don't find random things next to each other. The store is located in an old house so you go from room to room while shopping. It can feel a little bit cramped but I was surprised by the amount of products they sell. There are lots of refrigerator and freezer goods too. The prices seem high for American groceries but as far as I can tell they are typical for an international market. I'd suggest reading other reviews and checking expiration dates. I'm new in town and have only been once but I understand they may not have high turnover for some products that may end up past their expiration. Just use your brain. Not sure if they take cards- I always assume there's a card minimum or that they don't take card so keep cash on hand. The only disappointing thing was their fresh produce. It was the size of a cocktail table and had about 6 items total. I'm sure there are other shops in town with better produce selection but as far as cultural variety, I'd say this International Market takes the cake.

This is a great little neighborhood international grocery that is truly international: they…read moreseemingly have something from every major food culture here. It is one of the few places you can find several varieties of dates, and they are in tune with religious holidays and will often have foods especially for those. It is a pretty small space so it can be tough to find what you are looking for, but the workers are all very nice and willing to help!

The worst place in town as far as parking lot. There are deep deep holes everywhere. God forbid you…read morego there when it's raining or there's snow on the ground and you can't see them. My husband had to have his car fixed after hitting one of the gigantic holes in the parking lot. I think all the customers should start complaining to management and sending them the bill for their car repairs.

They are convenient to where I live. On many occasions the shelf price is different from the…read morecharged price. At times I don't notice until I get home. When I am still at the store I get a refund but they don't do anything to correct the problem so other people get ripped off. I have never had the price error work in my favor after dozens of incidents in two years or so. Seems fishy to me.

I love this place! I moved to State College for school a few months back and took full advantage of…read moreshopping here since I'm not used to having an Asian market around. It has a lot of similar things to J&C down the road, but I honestly prefer this location. The space is a bit smaller and they don't play music so it's a bit less overwhelming. There's lots of good quality items to choose from! I usually check here first for things like kimchi or bok choy because I know they'll have a good selection. The employees are nice as well! They're quite kind with everyone and it seems like they're accommodating to those with cultural differences. An employee helped a woman pick out items for a hot pot when she asked, and I was able to ask for clarification on an item that I couldn't read the label of. Overall a great location, definitely recommend!

Today I paid with cash, no discount. They pick and choose when they give that posted cash discount…read more Very shady.

I've never seen more than one cashier, ever. This keeps me from going to Aldis State College. If I…read morerun in to get one thing, I'm in line behind people with full carts. Like my recent trip. Everyone in line had full carts, I had two items. Other times the cashier is missing altogether. Please please PLEASE add self checkouts. I'll update if they ever get them or add a notification that a second cashier is needed - ever happens.

I have been a fan of Aldi for years and through multiple moves/towns/locations. While I'm upset it…read moretook State College SO LONG to get an Aldi, I'm so happy it's finally here! Aldi, generally speaking, is a cheaper grocery store with lots of good options for basics. They don't have everything (i.e. obscure ingredients for specific cuisines) but they have a lot of the basics and, my favorite, lots of cheaper options for some of my favorite items (popcorn chips, skyr, cookies, cheese, etc). This Aldi is super clean, they have lots of shopping carts available and a great big parking lot. The staff have been very friendly every time I've been (~once a week). The only complaint is it can be crowded at times with undergrads... so if you're like me, go in the mornings when they open or another time undergrads won't be likely to go. Other than that, this is a great place to save a few bucks and support something unlike the big blue monster (wally world). Bring your own bags!

Some places are worth building an entire adventure around. Penn State Berkey Creamery is one of…read morethem. As fate would have it, my Adventure Buddy and I found ourselves in State College on National Ice Cream Day, and there was absolutely no way I was leaving town without finally visiting the home of my favorite ice cream flavor ever...Monkey Business (banana ice cream, peanut butter swirl, chocolate chips). I'd fallen in love with Monkey Business last summer after trying it at an ice cream shop close to my house, but somehow I'd never actually made it to the Creamery itself. Correcting that oversight immediately became part of the day's adventure plan! We arrived around 12:30 on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, fully expecting National Ice Cream Day to mean complete chaos. Surprisingly, it wasn't. Busy? Absolutely. But the line moved quickly, everyone seemed to know exactly what they were doing and the whole operation ran like a well-oiled ice cream machine. Then I looked around. Cheese. Sticky buns. Chocolate milk. Bagels. Ice cream. Ice cream. More ice cream. At one point I turned to my Adventure Buddy and said..."I could live here." Ordering couldn't have been easier. First, you tell the cashier whether you're getting a cone, bowl or shake and pay. Then you move down to the ice cream counter, where you pick your flavor. Finally...you wait for your number to be called so someone can hand you what can only be described as an absurdly generous serving of happiness. While I waited, I sampled the Grilled Stickies flavor. Big mistake! It was phenomenal! For approximately fifteen seconds, I seriously considered abandoning my beloved Monkey Business and trying something new. Fortunately...I came to my senses. Monkey Business and I have history together. When my number was called, the gentleman behind the counter handed me a bowl that was significantly larger than I expected. And yes...I audibly squealed. Again. Right there in the middle of the Creamery. I looked at him and said, "You absolutely made my day!" Because he had. We found a table outside on the patio to enjoy the beautiful weather, performed a few completely necessary happy food dances and proceeded to enjoy every glorious bite of what is still, without question, my favorite ice cream flavor on Earth. For only $6. On National Ice Cream Day. Honestly, I don't know how that day could've gotten any better. PRO TIP: Don't skip the sample spoon! There are so many incredible flavors that it's worth trying something new before committing. Just be warned...you may accidentally discover another favorite! I also learned that Berkey Creamery ships ice cream to the lower 48 states. This information feels...dangerous. Living only about an hour and a half away, I probably don't need to have Monkey Business shipped directly to my house. But...I may have to test the process someday. You know...in the name of science! If you're anywhere near State College, do yourself a favor and make the stop. Whether you're a Penn State fan, an ice cream enthusiast or just someone who appreciates an exceptionally well-run small operation, Berkey Creamery absolutely lives up to its legendary reputation. WE ARE...ICE CREAM HEAVEN!

My younger self would be dismayed with my present self for this ranking. This is probably the most…read moreiconic ice cream shop in all of Pennsylvania, and I attach a good amount of teenage memories to it. That said, while there are some really wonderful features of their ice cream, particularly the texture of small chocolate chunks they embed, it's not actually the greatest ice cream in existence. The chocolate is too milky, the mint too green and artificial, etc. It might make more sense to think of it as exemplary commercial rather than distinctly artisinal?