The ownership of a beloved pair of eateries among Penn State residents, alumni, and students has changed.
According to Keystone Real Estate Group, LP, John and Lisa Dimakopoulos sold the Original Waffle Shops at 1229 N. Atherton St. and 1610 W. College Ave. to Chris Paret as of today, January 10.
The restaurants have been run by the Dimakopouloses for fifty-two years.
State College’s iconic Original Waffle Shops are well-liked destinations for breakfast and lunch. The pair began planning to sell the restaurants and eventually retire a number of years ago.
According to the press release, “our goal was to find a new owner who would carry on in a way that we felt served the customers, the community, and the employees well, and maybe even better.”
According to the Dimakopouloses, Chris and his wife, Michelle Paret, were chosen because of their strong connections to State College and their background in restaurant ownership and operation. They also mentioned that they were humbled by the chance to serve as curators of the establishment, which is called The Original Waffle Shops.
Both of the Parets graduated from Penn State, and they have been raising their two kids at State College for almost 20 years. Chris Paret has run seven quick-service eateries in Brookville, DuBois, and downtown State College.
Chris Paret remarked, “I want to sincerely thank John and Lisa for entrusting me with the Waffle Shop tradition they have lovingly built over the past 52 years.” We are thrilled to continue this valued tradition and hope that The Original Waffle Shops will continue to be a beloved meeting spot for the people of the Happy Valley and its guests.
According to the website, John Dimakopoulos started the first Original Waffle Shop in 1972 after traveling from Greece to the United States in 1960 to seek the American Dream.
It’s only time to take stock of our lives after fifty-two years. “From the other side of the service counter, we hope to enjoy time with our family, friends, and our community,” he said.
Stories by
Sue Gleiter