There’s something new buzzing on Main Street in Clarion — with sushi, specialty drinks, late-night dining and plenty of room for PennWest students to gather. 

Suites on Main South has opened for the fall semester as a lively new hub for student life at PennWest Clarion. Located near campus residence halls, the space brings together dining, student organizations, services, the campus bookstore and comfortable places to meet, study or spend time with friends. 

“PennWest Clarion is a vital part of the Clarion community, and this location reflects that connection,” said Dr. Susanne Fenske, vice president for Institutional Effectiveness and Student Affairs. “Suites on Main South places student life along one of the community’s most visible corridors, bringing new energy to Main Street while giving our students a welcoming place to gather, connect, and find support.”

Students say that energy is already taking shape. 

“The new student center brings students together and puts us in the heart of Clarion — right on Main Street,” said Liz Traugott, Clarion Student Senate president and a nursing student. “It gives our campus a hub for events, collaboration, and opportunities to build friendships while connecting students with downtown Clarion.” 

At the center of the activity is The Talon, a new dining destination open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday. Its daytime menu features sushi and poke bowls, stir-fry and Asian-inspired entrées, and Botrista specialty beverages. In the evening, The Talon shifts to a late-night menu, and Grubhub ordering makes it easy for students to pick up meals around their class and activity schedules. 

Suites on Main South also includes offices for student clubs and organizations, lounge and meeting areas, student services, and the campus bookstore. Together, the offerings create a convenient home base where students can find support, become involved and build friendships outside the classroom. 

Maddy Sanders, a marketing major and president of Eagle Ambassadors, said the new location is already bringing more people together. 

“I am seeing more faculty and students during the day than I ever had before,” Sanders said. “It feels like it is truly bringing us together as a community. The clubs and organizations are closer, too, and the teamwork throughout the new student center has been so helpful.” 

The university completed the move during the summer, transforming Suites on Main South into a destination designed around how students live, learn, and connect. 

PennWest will celebrate the new space with a grand opening at 11 a.m. Sept. 16. In the meantime, students are already settling in — meeting friends, discovering new favorites at The Talon, and adding their own energy to PennWest Clarion’s newest gathering place.