The former Dino’s Pizza location in the Nittany Mall has sat empty for the past year in and half, but a new restaurant will soon fill its space and offer mall-goers a new dining option.
Ville Billy’s is set to hold its grand opening on Monday, March 21, near entrance A of the mall.
The new restaurant will feature pizzas, hot and cold subs, strombolis, salads and burgers; fish, chicken finger and spaghetti dinners; loaded fry platters; a range of appetizers like wings and specialty nachos; sides such as macaroni and cheese; desserts and a kids menu.
“It’s a little variety of everything,” owner Ashley Hilliard said.
Ville Billy’s is Hilliard’s first venture into restaurant ownership, but the Centre County native has worked in the industry for 18 years, including time as manager of Brother’s Pizza in Wingate.
“[Owning a restaurant] is just something I’ve always wanted to do,” Hilliard said. “I saw the opportunity and figured why not go for it.”
Ville Billy’s will offer dine-in, takeout and delivery. It will be open 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Visit the restaurant’s Facebook page for more details.
Though the Nittany Mall has seen a number of businesses close over the past seven years, it’s recently seen new life, including the addition of anchor stores Rural King and Gabe’s and some smaller shops and kiosks, the planned Bally’s casino (which is still awaiting a decision on state license approval) in the former Macy’s and the repurposing of some retail spaces for activity-based businesses like Nittany Fencing Academy and Dance Academy of State College.
Hilliard said she’s optimistic.
“Hopefully it will fill back up the way it used to be,” she said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen but it would be nice to see it come back.”
Dino’s Pizza shut its doors in October 2020 after 24 years in business. Prior to Ville Billy’s opening, the mall’s only current eatery is Chew Chew Bun bakery.
