Ellen Braun’s hospitality story started with a detour. “I graduated from Penn State in 1984 with a degree in English and quickly realized that I was so shy and introverted that I wasn’t emotionally prepared for any of the career paths I’d dreamed of,” she said. So, to overcome it, she got what she calls “assertiveness training” — a job at The All American Rathskeller. The job turned out to be a crash course, not only in confidence, but also in her career path. “It changed my life,” she said.

“My coworkers from that time became lifelong friends. My confidence grew exponentially. And I realized that I was driven by a curiosity about people that helps me overcome my introverted side.”

With her newfound confidence in hand, Braun started working at Chumley’s in 1992. “I was beginning to understand that a career in hospitality wasn’t just temporary for me,” she said. She’d never been to a gay bar, and when the manager asked her if she’d be comfortable, she said that she honestly didn’t know. “He suggested that I come in on a busy weekend night, to get the lay of the land,” she remembers. “It was perfect — I saw a wonderful opportunity to work at a bar that catered to adults, where the sense of community was strong, we used actual glasses instead of plastic cups, and sweeping up at the end of the night didn’t involve piles of broken glass and a shovel. (Don’t get me wrong, I loved all these things about the Skeller!)”

Over the years, her role evolved from part-time bartender to manager, and she says that she began to really understand how important a place like Chumley’s is in a transient college town. “Over many (30!) years, I’ve seen amazing changes in both the State College community, and central Pennsylvania’s gay community, and I’ve learned so much. It’s been a real privilege to be part of this.”

Her favorite thing about her job? “The list is so long!” she said. “My job takes me around the world and back home every day. I’ve learned that embracing diversity is global in context. And my work enables me to cultivate my intellectual curiosity more than I ever might have imagined.”

She says that her customers, coworkers, and Chumley’s owners are her family. “The strength of these bonds has changed the landscape in State College for the better. My coworkers and I are committed to cultivating diversity, love meeting new people, and some of us like to dance. We make excellent drinks, and have the best chef in town!!!”

But don’t just take her word for it — there’s a place saved for you. “Football season? Come to Chumley’s. Holiday breaks? Come to Chumley’s. Concert in town? Come to Chumley’s. We’re always here, mostly civilized, and have a spot for you.”