Newcomer in town, Benny Leone’s, brings a new pizza joint for the post-bar crowds, hungry students, organization meet-ups and anyone looking for a quick bite.
Based in Virginia, the Benny franchise continues the chain, opening their third shop in Pennsylvania at 109 S. Fraser St.
Since its grand opening on June 11, the pizzeria has attracted attention with the aroma of fresh pies drifting out the door.
Standing ready behind the counter on day one, Aliana Higgins was excited to sell the name and flavor of Benny Leone’s.
“We make good pizza, not fast pizza,” Higgins, an employee, said. “That’s the Benny franchise’s personal message.”
With $5 per cheese slice, they also include toppings like pepperoni, garlic mushroom and Italian sausage for $6.
Meat and vegetable special toppings will rotate on a monthly basis. As for the month of June, the option for chipotle chicken and bruschetta is on the spinning wheel.
Co-owner Colin Farrell highlighted Benny’s mission was to serve high quality pizza at a reasonable price.
Benny Leone’s State College owner, Colin Farrell, spreads sauce on pizza dough on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 in downtown State College.
The chain has also dished out their “signature 28” pies” in all locations for larger gatherings, making Penn State’s large organizations the perfect customers.
Being a student at Penn State herself, Higgins described the environment as welcoming to not just students, but anyone in the area.
“This is the kind of place where you just come in, make conversation and just chill for a second,” Higgins said. “It’s already shown itself to be that kind of space.”
The name cleverly nods to Penn State’s mascot as ‘Leone’ is the Italian word for lion.
As an experienced chef around State College, Julian Vitaglione reflected on what drew him to work at Benny Leone’s.
“Part of the appeal here specifically is we do everything from scratch,” Vitaglione, an employee, said.
Flour, olive oil, tomato sauce and meat are prepared in house to ensure a fresh flavor for the customers, according to its website.
Being the 10th kitchen Vitaglione has worked in, he expresses gratitude for the pizzeria’s work atmosphere.
Benny Leone’s State College owner, Colin Farrell, puts a new pizza into the oven on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 in downtown State College.
“I’m really glad to be a part of a nice functional team,” Vitaglione said. “Just a small operation that is simple.”
Part of the franchise’s public pull is the interactive opportunities available.
The Benny’s Challenge is where someone has to eat one of the 28-inch pies entirely under 28 minutes with a prize of $280.
According to an interview with the Centre Daily Times, Farrell emphasized the amount of people that enter the challenge will also be the amount that fail but said, “The challenge is a lot of fun.”
Farrell noted his familiarity with the college town crowd.
“I started at the original location at Virginia Tech, where I used to go to school,” Farrell said. “Before I graduated, I started working just as a part-time thing.”
Aiming at the crowd that never sleeps, Benny Leone’s will be open on weekdays until 1 a.m., and Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until 3 a.m.
Born and raised in Bloomsburg, Farrell turned what he at first thought to be a part-time gig, into an expansion of the franchise.
“I really fell in love with the business model,” Farrell said. “So, here I am bringing it a little closer to home.”
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