Wake up, babe, a new State College pizza place just dropped.

Following the turbulent and poorly received closure of Gumby’s Pizza at 300 S. Pugh St., a new pizza joint has risen from the ashes and taken its place in the same location. 8 Mile Pizza opened on Tuesday, August 15, and our staffers made their way over to see how it stacked up to other State College staples.

8 Mile’s menu features all sorts of Detroit-style options, including classic, buffalo chicken, and barbecue chicken on hand-tossed dough. From noon to 2 p.m. and from 9 p.m. until close, 8 Mile serves pizza-by-the-slice for hungry students who aren’t ready to finish a whole pie. It also runs frequent promotions on social media for its “pizza drops” with featured pies rotating every week.

Its full menu also features subs, including cheesesteaks on authentic Amoroso rolls, wings, salads, and desserts.

Here’s what our staff thought about the Detroit-style pizza joint.

Luke Pieczynski: Classic Detroit Pizza

Here’s the thing: I am unapologetically not a pizza person. Sorry, but never once have I been in the right mood to say “Let’s go get pizza.” It always sort of just shows up. So why the hell am I reviewing a pizza place? It’s good pizza. Something the State College area so desperately needed. That’s a fine-looking pizza, folks.

The Detroit-style crust is thick and fluffy, something more akin to an actual piece of bread rather than what you’d expect from a traditional pizza crust. The way the cheese on 8 Mile’s pie melted in with everything, including the sauce, pepperoni, and buttery crust made it like eating a pepperoni-flavored stuffed crust with every bite. Incredible. It’s definitely a lot to handle and something you need to be in the right headspace for, but it’s really good if you can stomach the thicker crust.

I also wanted to shout out its manager, Jesse, for being so hospitable and ensuring I had the best experience possible at 8 Mile. It was clear that everyone working, including Jesse himself, was excited to be in the State College area and ready to serve Penn State students.

Jack Anderson-Jussen: Classic Detroit Pizza

I had the Detroit-style pizza, which was recommended by Jesse, the super enthusiastic manager, and I was very impressed.

The pizza had a very tasty Foccacia crust that wasn’t hard and brittle like most deeper-dish style pizzas I’ve had. The sauce was very flavorful but at the same time wasn’t overpowering. The cheese and pepperoni were subtle which made for a nice, less greasy feeling. I had two pieces of the personal pizza size and felt like it was a perfect portion.

All while this was going on, I enjoyed the pleasant conversation with employees who were very passionate about their food. It’s always nice when the people making your meal can tell you everything about it and what’s different from different places. All of that love and care came through in the very tasty food.

I give it a 9.1 out of 10.

Joe Lister: Buffalo Chicken Pizza

To say the least, I wasn’t all that impressed with 8 Mile.

First, the overall experience was rough. Like its predecessor, 8 Mile didn’t have many seating options. There were only two tables that were both taken, so I stood outside while I waited for my order and ate my pizza when I got back to campus. It also took around 25 to 30 minutes for my pizza to come out of the oven from the time I ordered it, which made standing around even worse. By the time I sat down to eat, I had spent around 40 minutes either at 8 Mile or walking back to campus.

The pizza itself was fine. I ordered a personal-sized pizza, which is supposed to feed 1-2 people according to the menu. It was certainly plenty of food, and I couldn’t eat past three of the four slices. The buffalo chicken could have been spicier, but it wasn’t a terrible pie. Just average, really.

Between the walk to and from the restaurant and the quality of the food, I doubt I’ll be back to 8 Mile anytime soon. However, to its credit, the restaurant may get better as time passes and ownership is either able to increase staff size or otherwise decrease wait times.

Brady Miller: Cheesesteak Pizza

I love cheesesteaks so it only made sense to get the cheesesteak pizza.

After receiving a sales pitch for their “incredible cheese sticks,” I politely declined and just waited for my pizza. I also made friends with the guy that was working there and he took my phone to show me a cool trick that you can do with your AirPods. He even gave me 10 free plates so he’s basically my best friend now.

The walk from 8 Mile to my apartment was rough because I hadn’t eaten much, and it smelled great. The crust was extra crunchy and it was loaded with steak and onions. My only gripe is that there weren’t enough peppers on it.

Although it was sad to see Gumby’s is no longer there, I’m happy 8 Mile took its place. I will be going back for more food. I like the Detroit-style pizza, and it’s different than the other pizza shops in town.

I’ll rate it an 8.5 out of 10.

Nolan Wick: Pepperoni Pizza

I went to 8 Mile with a friend, and we both agreed that the food was good but the place itself left more to be desired.

The ambiance could use work. I went there to have a sit-down meal, but the restaurant couldn’t accommodate more than two groups at a time. Half of the restaurant was also dark. My friend’s food also came well before mine, even though we placed back-to-back orders. Overall, this felt more like my local Pizza Hut than a sit-down pizza joint.

However, the food was actually quite good. I liked the Detroit-style pizza for a change, which is generally hard to find around here. The deep and thick crust with sauce on top and pepperoni was definitely a good style that made the wait worth it.

Evan Halfen: Fresh Tomato Garlic Pizza

I got the fresh tomato garlic pizza and it was probably one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had. The crust was thick and had the perfect balance of crunch and doughiness. The pizza was flavorful and the ingredients were fresh, making it an absolute must-have. I really liked that they offer both a personal pan pizza and a sharable size, which are both decently priced given the quality. Although I had to wait around 20 minutes for my pizza, the wait was worth it. I will definitely be back for more.