By HappyValleyIndustry.com
In a town known for football Saturdays and late-night bar crawls, something quietly revolutionary is happening on Hiester Street.
Manny’s Live Performance Space opened its doors in January 2025—and with it came a new wave of sound, soul, and shared intention. Housed in the former Saloon, Manny’s reclaims a venue with deep musical history and reimagines it as a global arts incubator right in the heart of downtown State College.
At the center of it all is Corey Elbin, founder of Gorinto Productions, director of Rhoneymeade Fest, and a curator of music in the truest sense. But what Corey is really building is something larger than a venue—it’s a cultural movement.
Incubated in Community, Powered by Intent
Corey’s journey started far from downtown—both geographically and spiritually. Raised in Ohio with Pennsylvania roots, he spent formative years in Denver, where he worked at the iconic Mercury Cafe under his mentor Marilyn Megenity, learning about intentionality, community, storytelling, and the transformative power of the arts.
When he returned to Pennsylvania, Corey found a home for his experimental music programming at 3 Dots Downtown, a vibrant arts incubator that has become a launchpad for artists, ideas, and now, entire movements.
“This all incubated at 3 Dots,” Corey explains. “The pilot events for what became Secret Planet started there. It helped me test, listen, and grow the audience. Manny’s wouldn’t exist without that beginning.”
A Cultural Venue Born of Joy, Grit, and Legacy
With bookings already drawing visitors from Harrisburg, Buffalo, NYC, Virginia, Cleveland and even Canada, Manny’s is proving that world-class arts experiences belong outside the big cities. On any given Monday night, 180 people might pack the space for a band that played Brooklyn the night before—only now, the audience is home by 10 p.m. with their souls stirred and their worldview expanded.
“What kept this space empty was the lack of a liquor license—but I always saw that as secondary to its real potential,” says Corey. “By not centering our programming around alcohol sales, we’ve created space for invention and genuine community connection. Traditional venues often overlook people who don’t feel comfortable in bar settings—but here, they feel seen and valued. That’s become our greatest strength. The space is all-ages, accessible, and focused on the music. People bring their kids. Artists feel that energy—it’s not transactional. They’re genuinely moved.”
One recent artist, fresh off a performance at the Kennedy Center, said their Manny’s stop was a tour highlight. They extended their set that night—swept up in the connection with the crowd.
“Audiences talk about being on the same wavelength. It’s emotional. It’s life-affirming,” Corey shares. “It’s a shock to some people how deep it goes.”
Roots in DIY, Backed by a Village
Corey still honors his DIY roots—booking local basement bands, navigating visa logistics for acts from Bogotá and Colombia, and creating stages for voices that don’t always have one.
The venue is a family affair. His mother sells merch at shows (and once panicked when the credit card reader died). His father chats up the bands. His 89-year-old roommate Phil hardly misses a show. And the whole space is named for his late cat, Manny, who walked beside him for 23 years.
As Corey says:
“This is my WHY. This is my life. It’s about having a fierce relationship to action and intention, and then turning it over to the universe where magic controls the outcome.” He sees Happy Valley as a place of possibility—not scarcity—and constantly works to break down silos. He collaborates with everyone: from Erica Quinn and Liz Grove to Elaine Meder-Wilgus at Webster’s, Gordy Kauffman at Boal City Brewing, Kevin Lloyd at Big Spring Spirits, John Saxton of State Comedy, Brad Groznik, the Downtown State College Improvement District, the Friedman family (his landlords), and dozens of others who believe in the magic of community.
“This is not a venue that competes,” Corey says. “We’re working with the Arts Festival. We’re just another marble in the jar—another piece of the puzzle.”
A Catalyst for Cultural and Economic Growth
Manny’s is more than a venue—it’s economic fuel for the East End. It brings visitors to downtown restaurants, hotels, and shops. It creates jobs, supports emerging artists, and builds regional cultural capital.
And it’s only getting started.
“The arts are integral to the whole,” Corey says. “They’re not an afterthought. They’re a catalyst.”
From the Rhoneymeade Fest (one of the best emergent festivals in the US) to new artist residencies and collaborations, Corey’s vision continues to expand.
Catch a Show at Manny’s
See what’s next: gorintoproductions.com/events | https://www.instagram.com/mannysstatecollege/
Manny’s Live Performance Space, 101 Hiester Street, Downtown State College
Don’t Miss Rhoneymeade Fest, June 5-8: https://rhoneymeadefest.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/rhoneymeadefest/
Various venues
Come for the music. Stay for the humanity. Leave changed.
