Seriously, at this point I think I can handle the Jennifer Thomas beat for the CDT. I mean really, just look for the newly opened businesses or the ones who just filed for bankruptcy. Easy enough. Well, in addition to The Philly Soft Pretzel Factory which just opened on Allen St. and got a full write-up from The Collegian (and was giving away free samples yesterday btw), I've got the inside skinny on two new stores getting ready to open. Actually I just walked by and took pictures, that's about as much investigating as you're gonna get from me.

In Tuesday's Collegian there was an entire article about The Philly Soft Pretzel Factory (TPSPF?) and at the very end Katherine Dvorak mentions that, oh yea there's another pretzel shop opening called Jim's Soft Pretzel Bakery (it's going to be next to the Starbucks on the corner of Garner St. and Calder Way), and gives that part of the story all of two sentences. Isn't the real story (ok, "story" is probably stretching it) that there are two soft pretzel places opening within a few blocks of each other and only one (or maybe neither) will survive. Instead this piece seems like PR for TPSPF? I mean that's a story just screaming for a Highlander pun. There can be only one. (btw, what's up with me and pretzels?)

Anyway, on my way down College Ave to take a pic of Jim's Soft Pretzel Bakery (JSPB?) when I noticed another business "coming soon," Saxby's Coffee which will be taking over for the M&T bank at the corner of McAllister and College. Don't know where that is? How about below Nittany Notes? Ah, now you get it.

But here's another story of a business that's just asking to fail. Do we really need another coffee place in State College? Look, I hate coffee so I'm a little biased, but we have two Starbucks', Dunkin' Donuts, Irving's, Webster's, Saint's Cafe, Higher Grounds, Chat's and any number of other places I'm failing to mention. Really, are you people that addicted to coffee?

Well just call me in a year when these places are out of business and let me know what's taking their place. Or actually never mind, I'll be here for "Arts" Fest getting wasted probably.