Michael T. Mondak speaks about the need for Penn State ice cream in the Shenango Valley

As the Shenango Valley looks toward the future and the redevelopment of the former Shenango Valley Mall site into Hickory Fields, there is an opportunity to bring something genuinely distinctive to our community.

My suggestion is simple:  Let's bring Penn State Berkey Creamery ice cream to the Shenango Valley on a regular, year-round basis.

I'm not talking about another seasonal ice-cream stand.  I'm talking about a permanent destination where residents can enjoy the actual ice cream produced by the Penn State Berkey Creamery throughout the year.

For Penn State fans in Mercer County, this would be more than another place to get dessert.  It would be a convenient way to enjoy something associated with Happy Valley without having to make the trip to State College.

And that matters even more during the winter.

A trip from the Shenango Valley to State College is already a significant undertaking.  During the winter months, when snow, ice and difficult driving conditions can make long-distance travel more challenging, making that trip simply for ice cream may not be practical for many people.

Why not bring the ice cream closer to home?

That's where Hickory Fields could come in.

Imagine a year-round shop at the new development offering Creamery ice cream by the scoop, pints to take home, milkshakes and sundaes.  Imagine Penn State decorations, merchandise and memorabilia.  Imagine local Penn Staters meeting there before or after a football game - or simply stopping in because they want their favorite Creamery flavor.

It could become a destination in its own right.

And this isn't just about Penn State fans.  A distinctive business can help give a developing commercial district an identity.  People have reasons to visit places that offer something that cannot easily find elsewhere.  A Penn State Creamery location could give residents another reason to stay local than making a long trip elsewhere.

There are, of course, practical questions to answer.  Would the Penn State Creamery be interested in supplying a Mercer County retailer?  Would the economics work for a local business?  Is there enough demand to support a permanent location?

Those are exactly the plans that should be explored.

I'm not suggesting that Penn State has committed to opening a location here.  It hasn't.  I'm suggesting that someone should ask whether this opportunity is possible.

And I think the community should have a voice in that conversation.

If you're a Penn Stater in Mercer County, would you visit such a shop?  Would you buy Creamery ice cream regularly?  Would you bring your family?  Would you make it a destination during football season?  Would you support a business that combines Penn State pride with a local gathering place?

If the answer is yes, let's make that interest known.

Hickory Fields is an opportunity to think beyond simply replacing what was lost when the Shenango Valley Mall closed on June 1, 2024.  It's an opportunity to create something new - something that gives people a reason to say, "Let's go to Hickory Fields".

For me, one of those reasons could be very simple: a scoop of Penn State Berkey Creamery ice cream.

The Shenango Valley already has plenty of Penn State pride.  Let's give local Penn Staters a place where they can enjoy a little bit of Happy Valley without having to make a long trip to State College - particularly when winter weather makes that trip less appealing.

Bring the Penn State Berkey Creamery to the Shenango Valley.