Bubba’s Eggs, Steaks and Shakes, 131 S. Garner St. in State College, is pictured on ct. 28, 2025. Photo by Evan Halfen | StateCollege.com

A downtown State College diner has closed just over six months after opening.

Bubba’s Eggs, Steaks & Shakes, 131 S. Garner St., announced it permanent closure Sunday night in a Facebook post, citing ongoing staffing challenges.

“Like many businesses in the area, we have faced ongoing challenges with staffing, particularly in the downtown environment,” the post stated. “Despite our best efforts to recruit and retain a reliable team, these challenges have made it increasingly difficult to operate at the level our customers expect and deserve. We want to sincerely thank our employees—past and present—for their hard work and dedication, as well as our loyal customers for their continued support.”

It’s the second restaurant located inside the historic 1947 Silk City Diner that once housed Baby’s Burgers and Shakes for more than three decades to close in the past 10 months. Oeuf Boeuf et Bacon, which brought a French twist to American diner classics, shuttered in July after three years in business, with chef and co-owner Gillian Clark attributing the closure in part to staffing challenges.

Owners Bubba and Brianna Stroh, who previously operated the Daily Grind in Altoona, opened Bubba’s in late October, serving a full array of breakfast foods, burgers, hot dogs sandwiches, cheesesteaks, salads and milkshakes.

The restaurant maintained and added to the 1950s-style theme that had long-defined Baby’s, from the vintage soda fountain to the nostalgic memorabilia adorning the walls.

Bubba’s owners said closing the business was “not an easy decision.”

“We are incredibly proud of what we built and deeply grateful for the support from our customers, staff, and the local community,” they wrote. “Serving downtown State College has been a privilege, and we appreciate everyone who chose to spend their time and meals with us.

“This is not goodbye without gratitude. We are thankful for the memories, relationships, and experiences that came from being part of this community.”

The diner building that Bubba’s briefly called home arrived in State College in the 1960s and hosted several establishments before Baby’s Burgers and Shakes opened in 1987. Baby’s closed in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and Oeuf Boeuf et Bacon opened in 2022 before closing its doors this summer.