Essential State College: Webster’s Bookstore

Story posted March 27, 2018 in Arts & Entertainment by Baidi Wang.


Elaine Meder-Wilgus dreamed of having a bookstore after she graduated from Penn State. But more than just selling books, she wanted to create a place where people from the community could bond (and get books).

Webster's Bookstore Cafe has become an institution in downtown State College. It's now in it's fourth location since she first opened nearly three decades ago. She said she raised her daughter there.

Mecer-Wilgus sais many current customers might be surprised to know that the original store didn't have a coffee shop, now a primary part of the store's ambience.

(This video was produced for the 2018 Short Doc Workshop)