Author: mantzellbl18

There are multiple prospective students that visit Grove City College each year, giving them a glimpse into the experience Grove City has to offer. While tour guides do a great job of painting the picture at Grove City College, there are experiences and opportunities external to the perimeter of the school, and often that conversation is not approached or addressed during these visits. No matter where individuals end up for school, most students discover the hidden gems of the area once they begin school. And sometimes students never discover the hidden gems! Whether you are a freshman looking for something to do on a school night, a sophomore looking for a weekend adventure, a junior wanting to go hiking, or a senior wanting to soak up every last minute, I am here to change that conversation and provide the list(s) of to-dos you never knew you needed.

If you are not into coffee now, it is possible that you will become a fan of coffee in college. And if that does not stand to be true, chances are you will find yourself visiting coffee shops for an assortment of other reasons… studying, meeting with people, grabbing a quick bite to eat, or getting drinks other than coffee. This list consists of some of the hidden coffee shops within the area that could be the perfect place to satisfy any reason to go to a coffee shop.

Coffee Shops:

* gluten free options available

• Beans on Broad * – 4 minutes from campus
  • 141 S Broad St., Grove City, PA 16127
  • Website: http://www.beansonbroad.com/
  • Casual + cozy atmosphere, two stories, lots of indoor seating, espresso/coffee/tea/smoothies/others, sandwiches (lettuce wraps available)/salads/pastries, locally sourced coffee/milk/pastries, local crafts available to buy
• Collage Coffee – 4 minutes from campus
  • 221 S Broad St., Grove City, PA 16127
  • Website: https://www.collage.coffee/
  • Casual + hipster atmosphere, limited indoor seating, high quality drinks, espresso/coffee/tea/others, oatmeal/quiche/pastries/desserts, home-brewed kombucha, high quality art for sale, unique roasts for sale (whole bean and ground)
• Pampered Palate Café and Bistro * – 11 minutes from campus
  • 225 Westside Square Drive Suite 117, Mercer, PA 16137
  • Website: https://www.pamperedpalatecafe.com/
  • Panera-like atmosphere, full breakfast/lunch menu, espresso/coffee/tea/smoothies/others, gluten free alternatives, lots of indoor seating, limited outdoor seating available
• Mugsies Coffee House – 24 minutes from campus
  • 139 South Market St., New Wilmington, PA 16142
  • Website: https://www.mugsies.com/
  • Quaint atmosphere, limited indoor seating, house-roasted and brewed coffee blends daily, locally sourced ingredients (the Amish are GREAT farmers!), espresso/coffee/tea/ smoothies/milkshakes, sandwiches/pastries/bagels, located near Westminster college, other local shops, and the sweet town of Volant
• O’Neill Coffee Roasters * – 30 minutes from campus
  • 14 Fair Street, West Middlesex, PA 16159
  • Website: https://www.oneillcoffee.com/
  • Warm + welcoming atmosphere, lots of NEW seating, all beans are roasted across the street (sometimes it smells like burnt toast!), espresso/coffee/tea/smoothies, packaged sweets + goods, high-end home good products for sale, gift packages, coffee roasts for sale (whole bean and ground)
• The Confluence * – 32 minutes from campus
  • 214 E Washington St., New Castle, PA 16101
  • Website: https://www.confluencecoffee.org/
  • Peaceful + warm atmosphere, fireplace, lots of indoor seating, live music performed often, nonprofit for kids in the foster system, espresso/coffee/tea/others, sandwiches/salads/wraps/pastries/specials
• Papa Gelateria 
  • Website: https://www.papagelateria.com/
  • Authentic Italian gelato + espresso-based drinks (affogato is AMAZING!), specialty panini sandwiches (made with Mancini’s Bakery Focaccia bread and locally sourced meats + cheeses – YUM!), pastries/specialty items
  • New Castle location (opened seasonally) – 33 minutes from campus
    • 318 Highland Ave., New Castle, PA 16101
    • Limited indoor/outdoor seating, stage + patio overlooking New Castle (beautiful overlook!), occasional live music
  • New Wilmington location (opened year-round) – 24 minutes from campus
    • 141 S Market St., New Wilmington, PA 16142
    • Limited indoor/outdoor seating, located in the college town of New Wilmington
• Wunderbar Coffee & Crepes * – 33 minutes from campus
  • 253 Mercer St., Harmony, PA 16037
  • Website: https://www.wunderbarharmony.com/
  • Eclectic + cute atmosphere, backroom library/coffee lounge, savory and sweet gluten free crepes, soups/salads/gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches/wraps/waffles/breakfast sandwiches, espresso/coffee/tea/handcrafted sodas/others, Located in the historic German town of Harmony (there’s a bakery next door!)
• Kovfino – 36 minutes from campus
  • 157 W Adams St., Cochranton, PA 16314
  • Website: https://www.motzingcenter.com/blog/
  • Warm + cozy atmosphere, fireplace, limited indoor seating, attached to a movie theater (the Iris Theater), nonprofit, espresso/coffee/tea, snacks/sweets/candy/popcorn/cotton candy/ice cream
• Vacavi Café * – 45 minutes from campus
  • 100 Water St., Conneaut Lake, PA 16316
  • Website: https://vacavicafe.com/
  • Eclectic + earthy atmosphere, lots of indoor seating, scenic view of Conneaut Lake, espresso/coffee/tea (loose leaf)/smoothies, wraps/paninis/soups/salads/cheeses/pastries/sample platters/desserts
• Market House Caffe * – 46 minutes from campus
  • 8480 E Market St., Warren, OH 44484
  • Website: https://www.markethousecaffe.com/
  • Homey + warm atmosphere, renovated home turned into a coffee shop, fireplace, lots of indoor seating, espresso/coffee/tea, gourmet toast bar/jar bar (oats + yogurt)/pastries (gluten free options)/other breakfast items
• The Mocha House * – 52 minutes from campus
  • 467 High Street, Warren, OH 44481
  • Website: https://www.mochahouse.com/warren
  • Café meets diner/restaurant atmosphere, Lots of indoor seating, espresso/coffee/tea/smoothies, extensive breakfast/lunch/dinner food menu, known for their MANY desserts, located near historic downtown Warren
• Rock’n Joe Coffee – 59 minutes from campus
  • 524 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15222
  • Website: https://www.rocknjoe.com/
  • Electric + open atmosphere, large outdoor patio with seating, limited indoor seating, espresso/coffee/tea/smoothies, sandwiches/pastries, located near parks + other small shops, fun drive to get there!
• Carnegie Coffee Co. – 1 hour, 1 minute away from campus
  • 132 E Main St., Carnegie, PA 15106
  • Website: https://carnegiecoffeecompany.com/
  • Historic + charming atmosphere, old post-office building, take a book/leave a book library, functioning pharmacy located inside, two stories, lots of indoor seating, breakfast/lunch/desserts menu, espresso/coffee/tea, Lavazza coffee – #1 selling coffee in Italy

There are multiple prospective students that visit Grove City College each year, giving them a glimpse into the experience Grove City has to offer. While tour guides do a great job of painting the picture at Grove City College, there are experiences and opportunities external to the perimeter of the school, and often that conversation is not approached or addressed during these visits. No matter where individuals end up for school, most students discover the hidden gems of the area once they begin school. And sometimes students never discover the hidden gems! Whether you are a freshman looking for something to do on a school night, a sophomore looking for a weekend adventure, a junior wanting to go hiking, or a senior wanting to soak up every last minute, I am here to change that conversation and provide the list(s) of to-dos you never knew you needed.

While this list does not include ALL of the restaurants in the area, these are a few of my favorites that are each unique in their own ways. You will just have to come to Grove City to check them out!

Restaurants:  

• Coffaro’s Pizza ($) – 4 minutes from campus
  • 116 S Broad St., Grove City, PA 16127
  • Menu: http://www.coffarospizza.com/grove-city-menu.html
  • Just ask for the “college special” and you’ll get a large pizza and a liter of pop for $7… can’t be beat! Without breaking the bank and with delivery to your dorm room, Coffaro’s pizza couldn’t be more convenient.
• Main Street Diner ($) – 6 minutes from campus
  • 1313 W Main St., Grove City, PA 16127
  • Menu: https://www.mainstreetdinergc.com/menu/
  • Looking for a cheesy omelet, hashbrowns, some mediocre hot black coffee, and some homemade baklava ALL within walking distance? The Main Street Diner is your place to go. This sweet diner will no doubt make you feel warm and at home, no matter what meal you share with them.
• Blackout Burger Bar ($$) – 11 minutes from campus
  • 225 Westside Square Dr., Mercer, PA 16137
  • Menu: https://www.blackoutburgerbar.com/menu
  • Their milkshakes are to die for and their burgers will have you wishing for more. During the warmer seasons, Blackout Burger is a great spot to eat outside, but as the weather changes, it is also a great spot to eat inside in their family-friendly sports bar setting.
• Third Eye Pies ($) – 11 minutes from campus
  • 225 Westside Square Dr., Mercer, PA 16137
  • Menu: https://thirdeyepies.com/menu/
  • There are pizzas… and then there are dessert pizzas. You can decide which sounds better, but if it happens to be dessert pizza, Third Eye Pies has what they call “dessert pies” that certainly satisfies anyone’s sweet tooth. I recommend the S’mores pie. They have gluten free too!
• The Camelot Restaurant ($) – 13 minutes from campus
  • 101 S Main St., Slippery Rock, PA 16057
  • There’s nothing better than waking up early, watching the sunrise, and then heading to Camelot for their famous cinnamon rolls. This is one of those hole-in-the-wall places you have to visit. Maybe it is the cheap prices that make the food taste so good, or maybe it is just that good.
• Talbot’s Taproom & Terrace ($$) – 15 minutes from campus
  • 787 Mercer Grove City Rd., Mercer, PA 16137
  • Menu: https://www.talbotstaproom.com/menu/
  • A blend of modern art, chef-inspired food, live music, craft drafts, and unique outdoor and indoor seating creates an atmosphere people seemingly spend numerous hours at with no regrets. On a clear night, this is the place you want to be. On a rainy night, the inside will have you forgetting how gloomy the day really is. There is almost nothing better than combining quality, service, and atmosphere together into one place… Talbot’s does just that!
• Rachel’s Roadhouse ($$) – 16 minutes from campus
  • 1553 Perry Hwy., Mercer, PA 16137
  • Menu: https://www.springfields.com/rachels-roadhouse/menu/
  • The Tavern Chips will have your mouth watering, the Rackhouse Apple Chop might have you rolling out of the restaurant, and the drinks might have you feeling nice and warm by the time you are done at Rachel’s Roadhouse. A casual dining experience with a warm ambiance and high-quality food, Rachel’s might just be the perfect place to visit on a snowy Tuesday night.
• Log Cabin Inn ($$) – 33 minutes from campus
  • 430 Perry Hwy., Harmony, PA 16037
  • Menu: https://www.springfields.com/log-cabin-inn/menu/
  • If you’ve ever been to Rachel’s Roadhouse, Iron Bridge Inn, or the Yellow Creek Inn (check them out as well), you have most likely experienced quality food, service, and an overall quality experience. I will tell you a little secret: they are all owned by the same people! The Log Cabin Inn is also owned by this same group of people, but sits tucked away in no-service-land. With warm apple cider drinks, a quality meal, and a slice of homemade peanut butter pie, this is probably one of my favorite dinner places to eat.
• Harmony Inn ($$) – 33 minutes from campus
  • 230 Mercer St., Harmony, PA 16037
  • Menu: https://northcountrybrewing.com/the-harmony-inn/
  • Within the National Historic District of Harmony rests the German restaurant and craft beer bar, the Harmony Inn. What used to be the residence of Austin Pearce, a prominent banker, then once became a hotel and saloon called “The Ziegler Hotel,” the 1856 Italian-style home is now the Harmony Inn. Rich in history with a featured menu of unique craft drinks and hearty German meals, the Harmony Inn might grab the attention of someone looking for a German adventure. Check their website for live music as well.
• Donna’s Diner ($) – 36 minutes from campus
  • 10 W State St., Sharon, PA 16146
  • Menu: https://www.donnas-diner.com/
  • Ever wish you could have been born in the 50s? Visit Donna’s Diner and you’ll get a taste of what it might have been like. Donna’s Diner sits right on the edge of the Shenango River running through Sharon, PA, and offers a fun, lively, quaint, movie-like experience with phenomenal milkshakes, unique diner food, and good prices. You cannot miss it – just look for the metallic building!
• Lulu Beans Café ($$) – 36 minutes from campus
  • 234 E State St., Sharon, PA 16146
  • Menu: https://lulubeanscafe.com/lunch/
  • A restaurant, a gift shop, AND a coffee shop, Lulu Beans Café is one of the most unique places in the area. If you like outdoor seating, their outdoor patio is full of plants, vibrant colors, and cozy seating. If you prefer to be indoors, their multi-level building is also full of vibrant colors, cozy seating, and modern art. While their atmosphere alone makes Lulu Beans worth the visit, their healthy menu will make your tastebuds freak out in your mouth. Just take a glance at their menu… you will be convinced.
• The Church Brew Works ($$) – 1 hour, 2 minutes from campus
  • 3525 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15201
  • Menu: https://churchbrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/11-5-21.pdf
  • Church pews to bar stools – seems odd. You can read about the fascinating history of the church building that has now been turned into a brewery, serving hundreds of guests each week in Pittsburgh, PA. The owners of the brewery aimed to keep the church’s character by maintaining its original details, which certainly adds to the experience. Check out their seasonal brews on their menu!
• Out of the Fire Café ($$) – 2 hours, 4 minutes from campus
  • 3784 State Route 31, Donegal, PA 15628
  • Menu: https://www.outofthefirecafe.com/#
  • Yes, this is far. But yes, this is worth it, especially after you hike in the Laurel Highlands for the day. With a balcony overlooking the Laurel Highlands, plenty of cozy indoor seating, excellent casual dining, and a mountain-town atmosphere, you can easily find yourself sitting here for hours with friends and feeling right at home.

The transition from high school into freshman year of college has the natural potential to be challenging in many ways. For freshmen in 2020-21, the pandemic certainly contributed to the challenges, but could it have been possible that the pandemic might have actually added to students’ college experiences as well?

For Rachel Goetz, a sophomore entrepreneurship major with a minor in sales, the pandemic certainly presented its own challenges, but also provided her with a unique experience at Grove City College. Online classes with people she had never met, mandated masks anywhere but her room, a lack of social events that could take place, the looming risk of a two-week quarantine, and contact tracing lists a couple hundred people too long were all minor pieces of life at Grove City College during a time which sometimes sounded impossible to enjoy. For Rachel, though, there was joy amidst it all. She experienced community that, arguably, was more intentional to creatively find ways to invest in one another than in past years, and that was all Rachel hoped for entering into her freshman year of college.

I guess the idea that “people appreciate more of what they did not know they had” became a very real thing for the Grove City College community. When asked how she would describe the Grove City College community, Rachel said, “Impactful…everyone has good intentions of building relationships more.” She commented on not only the community of friends she found within her peers, but also the professors’ intentionality in wanting to get to know their students outside of the classroom. “Professors want to get to know you and will take the time to do so,” is how Rachel put it. Although the pandemic complicated the church scene, Rachel also found community members within local churches that were excited to creatively invest in her as a student and sister in Christ. In whatever fashion you experienced the pandemic, it is not hard to understand the challenges that arose because of it, but Rachel said, “Coming to Grove City College has meant to me that I get to grow in my faith spiritually and find life-long friends who will help me do that,” and that is seemingly what she continues to find, even amidst a world-wide pandemic.

Rachel’s advice to incoming freshmen is this: “You’re here for school, but don’t let that become your entire experience. Live without regrets…. You have your entire life to work.” See an attractive opportunity? Try it out! Meet a new person? Grab a meal! Find an adventure? Go for it! College will provide you with plenty to do…take advantage of that! You only regret what you do not try…isn’t that what they say?

High school concludes and the next step is seemingly college for many, although not the case for everybody. Some might be forced into this next step, some may choose this next step, some may see no other option, if the future is to hold what they have in store. Senior management major Joey Astrab certainly saw the advantages in going to college in order to get a good job, but also saw college as an experience he did not want to miss. “A little bit of everything” – a necessary next step, a means to an end, and an experience that leads into the next stage of life – is Joey’s idea of college.

It comes as no surprise that Joey’s idea of college is “a little bit of everything,” because Joey does “a little bit of everything” as well. A college athlete, a Beta Sigma fraternity brother, a member of the homecoming committee, a member of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAC), and a management major student at Grove City College, Joey set expectations for himself prior to coming to college that have benefited him well. Joey said his expectations were set for him, in a way, which were to “get good grades, get involved, stay on top of things, and learn as much as I can,” while also “making new friends and finding out what I want to do with my life.” While Joey set high expectations for himself to do his best in all he was involved in, he recognized that life is not all about school, and there is value in not making college all about school. His biggest piece of advice to any incoming college student was to “make the most of your experience and don’t make your life about school… Get involved in things outside of school. It’ll give you a mental break, distract you from school, and teaches you skills you can’t learn in the classroom.”

Although it makes sense to step into college expecting that it will lead to finding a vocation, college does not necessarily just hand you the future. While it is common for some people to have a grasp on their future plans, it is not particularly common for everybody to have that grasp… even as a senior in college. Joey is actively becoming closer to future plans, but has nothing solidified and is open to finding anything that he enjoys doing. It is not just about money for Joey. What college has provided Joey with is this: the knowledge necessary to pursue many careers, interpersonal skills, lifelong friends, and memories worth a lifetime.

Some people see college as a new beginning, a chance to step into the next stage of life and grasp independency. For some, though, college is a chance to take control of where they were and did not want to be in the future… a preventative measure, one might say. Addie Slate, a senior double-major in Biblical and Religious Studies and Social Work, came to college with a “preventative measure” mindset. She said, “College was the next step to get me from where I didn’t want to be… I didn’t want to be at home and working at a low-paying job, and I wanted to be independent.” Addie entered into college assuming college was the means to achieve her goal, which was to avoid being where she feared ending up in life, but her college story does not end there. College became a valuable experience, an outlet of connections, and “one small stop on the path to where I want to be.”

“I thought, ‘This is going to be the worst thing ever,’ but it wasn’t!” Few optimistic expectations were set in Addie’s mind before coming to college. She expected it to be challenging, expected it to be lonely, and assumed failure. Rather, she discovered that college was, indeed, challenging but achievable and full of people who would love her through friendships deeper than she could have imagined. Sometimes it simply just takes time to find those people, and waiting can be lonely. Her initial low expectations propelled her to become exceedingly more passionate about her experience at college, which prepared her for her future in unpredictable ways.

When asked the question, “What has college provided you with, as you enter into the next phase of your life?” Addie said, “Friendships deeper than I could’ve imagined, people who care about me, both at Grove City College and surrounding, a deeper relationship with the Lord, and confidence in who I am and Whose I am.” Notice that none of these provisions directly correlate with her initial idea of college – “the next step to get me from where I didn’t want to be.” That is because what Addie was given through her experience at college did not prepare her to succeed in avoiding where she did not want to be, but rather, college provided her with an experience that empowered her to succeed in confidently knowing who she is, knowing Whose she is, and discerning the path that lies ahead…where she wants to be.

Addie’s piece of advice for anyone considering college or entering into a new phase of life is this: “Know where your identity lies and invest in that…everything follows after where your identity lies.” For Addie, that identity rests in Christ. Addie is a dedicated Young Life leader at Grove City College and said, “I would rather be serving the Lord and doing ministry than have a 4.0…not that I would have a 4.0 if I wasn’t doing ministry.”

College – “the best four years of your life.” Sound familiar? While college is rightfully not for everyone, those who choose to go to college typically go with expectations of what is to come – rigorous or easy classes, Greek life, campus events, activities to do in the surrounding area, clubs to get involved in, dorm life, food, and campus culture. Once college becomes reality, expectations are then unmet, met, or exceeded and no one ever seemingly discusses how these play into peoples’ perception of college. My hope is to begin this open-ended discussion for prospective students before they step onto campus by interviewing students who have diverse opinions of college.

As I personally considered my answer to the question, “What does college mean to me?,” I enjoyed being able to look back on where I started, where I am headed, and how college has significantly impacted me in ways I could have never predicted.

I walked into my freshman year with little desire, excitement, or optimism for Grove City College, mostly due to unfortunate personal circumstances. Despite my involvement in Young Life, campus events, bible studies, and other opportunities, I found myself floating through freshman year and maintaining an existence, rather than a presence, on campus. There was no true place for me on Grove City College’s campus – I believed it. I found myself lost in my major, lost in community, and lost in direction. “College will be the best four years of your life” was seemingly becoming a lie that had greater impact on me, as I found myself struggling to enjoy my time spent at Grove City.

While I would love to share with you how my circumstances drastically changed, I would argue that the issue was not rooted in my circumstances as much as it was in myself. I never loved learning in a classroom; I never found my best friends; I never discovered the best four years of my life; I never achieved anything great; and I never truly felt like I found my place in college. What college did become to me was this, though: an opportunity for me to gain an experience that continually further equipped me to step into the Lord’s active calling for my life, the place where I learned that I do not have to achieve great things to achieve greatness in Christ, and the place where I also recognized that if I am, ultimately, living purposefully to be in the world but not of the world, belonging is not a part of that equation.

College – the most transformative four years of my life…a more accurate depiction of what college has meant to me.