By Staff Writer
Liz Grove purchased the historic Old Oak Tavern in Pine Grove Mills in 2019 and opened Pine Grove Hall in June 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic. As she described, it was “the worst possible time to start a new restaurant and live music venue.” With a little creativity and flexibility, though, Pine Grove Hall withstood the pandemic, and is now a thriving spot for dining and live music.
Grove grew up in Happy Valley, and then spent years working in the music industry in New York. She conceived Pine Grove Hall from a desire to bring something the area perhaps didn’t know was missing.
She said, “So much of the growth over the last 20 years has been focused on the student population. Locals and alumni retiring here need a place to go to enjoy great food and live music in a more upscale, but still casually comfortable, atmosphere.”
In addition to attracting locals, Pine Grove Hall is now a popular spot for those visiting during football season and for other big Penn State weekends. Beyond live music, customers enjoy the farm-to-table menu, which is rooted in a deep commitment to strong relationships with local farms. The bar is also popular thanks to unique craft cocktails and a curated wine and beer list that always features selections for pairing with the seasonal menu.
The future of Pine Grove Hall is bright, according to Grove.
“We are incredibly optimistic about our future. We needed more parking, so when the lot next door came on the market, we purchased it and did a land development plan to double our parking,” she said. “In addition, we are renovating the house on the lot to make a sister restaurant — Flour and Stone — that will complement the offerings of Pine Grove Hall.”
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