In the past few years, the downtown of Bellefonte has had new additions to its small bustle. The Parlor, Belle City Bites, the Print Factory, and Shaky Hands Coffee are just a few to name. New businesses are always welcome in Bellefonte as they are a huge component that helps us grow as a community!
Justin Leiter founded The Parlor in downtown Bellefonte earlier this year. The place is a small ice cream and sandwich shop that makes all their ice cream from scratch with local ingredients.
“I feel we may be one of the few places that offer hand dip, hard ice cream,” Justin Leiter said. He also owns Belle City Bites, a food truck he started in the fall of 2023. The truck is a food prep business that offers complete meals without all of the work. You can catch their weekly menu on their facebook page, where it also shows you how to order and where to pick-up your food.
Justin is originally from Bellefonte himself, and still has family living here. He used to run a different establishment in Centre County, the Red Horse Tavern. Even before his time at the tavern, he worked as a sous chef at the Gamble Mill, a restaurant still in business downtown. He has certainly seen the struggles that come with owning a small business,  but also felt the rewarding feeling of success.
“The food was great, and the staff was very kind. I thought the butter pecan ice cream was delicious.  I would highly recommend,” Lucas Roberts said on a facebook review. Even though Justin Leiter has started feeling the love for his work, he and any other small business can never receive enough support!
“Anything to get the word out and maybe create community events,” Justin Leiter said, suggesting how to support his business.
Shaky Hands Coffee shop opened up this past June on 106 W Bishop St, as well as the Print Factory book store opened, now two years ago, in 2023 on 130 South Allegheny St.
Checking out a new place downtown can be fun for you, but it also helps support Bellefonte. Small businesses offer employment and essential services to our town, but most importantly foster community in Centre County! Help Bellefonte thrive.