Exploring the Plaza Centre Antique Gallery in Bellefonte

Front facade of the Plaza Centre Antique Gallery in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.

The Plaza Centre Antique Gallery is a massive antique store and flea market housed in a historic former theatre in downtown Bellefonte, Centre County.

Front lobby of the Plaza Centre antique gallery and flea market in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.
Front lobby.

Plaza Centre includes not only the former Plaza Theatre building, but the adjacent building as well, for a total of 6 floors and more than 100 vendors!

Entrance to the Plaza Centre antique gallery in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.
Entrance to the Plaza Centre.

History of the Plaza Theatre

The old theatre which now houses the Plaza Centre antique gallery and flea market was originally built in 1925 by Charles Richelieu.

Old newspaper clipping about the closing of the Plaza Theatre, now the Plaza Centre antique gallery in Bellefonte, PA.
Old newspaper clipping detailing the history of the Plaza Theatre, on display in the lobby of the antique gallery.

Originally called the Richelieu Theatre, it was sold in 1934 and became the Plaza Theatre.

Historical photo of the Plaza Theatre, now the Plaza Centre antique gallery in Bellefonte, PA.
Historical photo of the Plaza Theatre on display in the lobby of the antique gallery.

The theatre was designed by Anna Wagner Keichline, the first woman to become a registered architect in Pennsylvania.

PA historical marker in front of the Plaza Centre antique gallery in Bellefonte, PA.
PA historical marker in front of the Plaza Centre.

The Plaza Theatre operated as a movie theatre until 1972, with the last movie shown there being Doctor Zhivago, the poster for which still hangs inside the building.

Doctor Zhivago movie poster at the Plaza Centre antique gallery in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.
Doctor Zhivago movie poster.

In 2001, the Plaza Theatre was reborn as the Plaza Centre Antique Gallery.

Old newspaper clipping on display at the Plaza Centre antique gallery in Bellefonte, pA.
Old newspaper clipping on display at the Plaza Centre.

You’ll still find all sorts of interesting memorabilia from the movie theatre days hanging in various areas of the Plaza Centre today.

Movie ticket prices at the former Plaza Theatre, now the Plaza Centre antique gallery in Bellefonte, PA.
Movie ticket prices at the former Plaza Theatre.

Plaza Centre is open every day of the week, from 10 am until 5 pm, Thursdays until 7 pm.

The Plaza Centre antique gallery along HIgh Street in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.
The Plaza Centre along High Street in Bellefonte.

Plaza Centre is located at 124 W High St, Bellefonte, PA 16823 (CLICK HERE for directions on Google Maps), just down the street from the Centre County Courthouse, with metered street parking available on both sides of the street.

The Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.
The Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.

Despite the name, the vast majority of the items you’ll find on the 6 floors of retail space at the Plaza Centre are reasonably priced vintage items, with a handful of expensive “antiques” thrown in for good measure.

Main floor of the old theatre now transformed into the Plaza Centre antique gallery and flea market in downtown Bellefonte, PA.
Main floor of the old theatre now transformed into the Plaza Centre antique gallery and flea market.

The “Bargain Basement” in particular, located in the old theatre portion of Plaza Centre, is pure flea market.

Basement of the old theatre at the Plaza Centre antique gallery in Bellefonte Pennsylvania.
Basement of the old theatre at the Plaza Centre antique gallery in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.

The upstairs portion of the former Plaza Theatre is more vendor space, with great architectural details, if you love old building like I do.

Stairway leading to the second floor of the old theatre which now houses the Plaza Centre antique gallery in downtown Bellefonte.
Stairway leading to the second floor of the old theatre which now houses the Plaza Centre antique gallery.

Because the nature of businesses like Plaza Centre means a constant turnover of each vendor’s one-of-a-kind items, there are always new and exciting goodies to be found to be found!

Second floor of the old Plaza Theatre, now the Plaza Centre antique gallery in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.
Second floor of the old Plaza Theatre.

Types of Items You’ll Find at Plaza Centre

As I’ve said in other articles about flea markets/antique stores, my primary interest is old records and 1980s pop culture items, both of which you’ll find in ample supply at Plaza Centre.

Vintage albums for sale at the Plaza Centre antique gallery and flea market in Bellefonte, PA.
Vintage albums for sale at the Plaza Centre.

Some vendors specialize in a single theme, such as this Christmas shop.

Christmas vendor at the Plaza Centre antique store and flea market in Bellefonte, PA.
Christmas vendor at Plaza Centre.

Vintage clothing is another well-represented item at Plaza Centre.

Vintage clothing for sale at the Plaza Centre antique gallery and flea market in Bellefonte PA.
Vintage clothing.

As are vintage sewing patterns.

Vintage sewing patterns for sale at the Plaza Centre antique gallery in Bellefonte, PA.
Vintage sewing patterns.

Being located so close to State College, naturally you’ll find tons of vintage Penn State memorabilia.

Vintage Penn State merchandise for sale at the Plaza Centre antique gallery in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.
Vintage Penn State merchandise for sale at the Plaza Centre antique gallery.

Several vendors carry a vast assortment of the game day buttons from the Joe Paterno era.

Penn State memorabilia for sale at the Plaza Centre antique gallery in Bellefonte Pennsylvania.
Penn State memorabilia for sale at the Plaza Centre.

You’ll find plenty of vintage puzzles and games, as you would at most flea markets.

Games and puzzles for sale at the Plaza Centre antique gallery and flea market in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.
Puzzles for sale at the Plaza Centre.

A few vendors sell new goods, such as this local pottery maker.

Pottery vendor at the Plaza Centre antique gallery and flea market in Bellefonte, PA.
Items from a local pottery maker.

But it’s the old stuff that draws me in, personally.

Vintage McDonalds glasses for sale at the Plaza Centre antique gallery and flea market in Bellefonte, PA.
Vintage McDonalds glasses.

For instance, this CB radio how-to album found its way home with me from Plaza Centre.

Vintage vinyl for sale at the Plaza Centre antique gallery and flea market in Bellefonte PA
10-4 good buddy!

No matter what your area of interest, with so much to see you’re just BOUND to find something you can’t live without at the Plaza Centre antique gallery on Bellefonte!

Upper floor of building adjacent to the old theatre at the Plaza Centre antique gallery in Bellefonte PA.
Upper floor of building adjacent to the old theatre.

The Jonnet Flea Market along Route 22 in Westmoreland County is another excellent place to shop for vintage/collectible items at reasonable prices.

The Jonnet Flea Market along ROute 22 just west of Blairsville in Indiana County, PA.
The Jonnet Flea Market along Route 22 in Westmoreland County.

Housed in a former car dealership, there are THOUSANDS of square feet to explore at the Jonnet Flea Market, open on Saturdays and Sundays.

Perusing the collectibles at Jonnet Flea Market in Blairsville, Indiana County, PA.
Perusing the collectibles at the Jonnet Flea Market.

 Leighty’s Flea Market in Blair County is a 29 acre goldmine for collectors of all things “vintage”, as well as a fun place to window shop and people-watch.

Exploring Leighty's Flea Market near Altoona Pennsylvania
Leighty’s Flea Market near Altoona.

Antique Depot and Flea Market is housed in a 74,000 square foot indoor facility in Duncansville, Blair County.

Looking down an aisle at Antique Depot in Duncansville
Looking down an aisle at Antique Depot.

I99 Antiques is a two-level, multivendor antique store in downtown Tyrone, Blair County.

Exploring I99 Antiques in Tyrone Pennsylvania.
I99 Antiques in Tyrone, Blair County.

Historica Plus is a large antique store occupying three floors of the historic Leitzinger Building in Clearfield, PA.

Exploring Historica Plus antique store in Clearfield Pennsylvania.
Historica Plus in Clearfield.

Founders Crossing is a 20,000 square foot antique mall and local artisan market located in the heart of downtown Bedford, Pennsylvania.

Founders Crossing antique store and flea market in Bedford, Pennsylvania.
Founders Crossing in Bedford, PA.

Black Rose Antiques and Collectibles is an antique store featuring more than 85 vendors in the Chambersburg Mall.

Exploring Black Rose Antiques at the Chambersburg Mall in Chambersburg PA
Black Rose Antiques and Collectibles.

Talleyrand Park is one of the crown jewels of historic Bellefonte in Centre County!

Exploring Talleyrand Park in Bellefonte Pennsylvania.
Sunset over Talleyrand Park in Bellefonte.

The Bellefonte Cruise has been a popular Father’s Day weekend event in historic Bellefonte since 1988.

The Bellefonte Cruise Car Show in downtown Bellefonte Pennsylvania
The Bellefonte Cruise is a Father’s Day weekend tradition since 1988.

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Rusty Glessner
Rusty Glessner is a professional photographer, lifelong Pennsylvanian, and a frequently-cited authority on PA's best travel destinations.