Berkeley students mourn the closing of Pacific Cookie Company and Smart Alec’s

‘Life is over as we know it’

Pacific Cookie Company announced their imminent closure and last day for November 11th.

Pacific Cookie Company’s Facebook announcement

The cookie and ice cream shop is a frequent stop of many students on their way to class, as it is conveniently close to campus- it’s located on Telegraph just past Bancroft. But its most loved feature is its “word of the day” deal: if you say the “word of the day” they post on their Instagram that day, you get a free cookie.

The looming loss of Pacific Cookie Company is compounded with a perhaps more serious toll in Berkeley’s food options: Smart Alec’s Intelligent Food, located on Durant and Telegraph. It closed permanently on Monday due to increased rent, spending, and competition.

It’s closure was a sad event for many students, who enjoyed the restaurant’s large portions, variety of menu items, and proximity to campus.

How I feel about the closing of Smart Alec’s and Pacific Cookie Company

Berkeley students are overwhelmingly upset about the closing of these two well-loved establishments.

Eric Contovasilis, a second year EECS major, said: “I’m pretty devastated, to be honest. Especially about Pacific Cookie Company.”

Lindsay Garner, a fourth year Integrative Biology major, said: “No one told me because they knew I’d get so upset. I’m so torn up about Smart Alec’s. I would eat those salads all the time. It was the perfect cheap weekend meal.”

Anisha Agarwal, a second year Cognitive Science major, said: “Pacific Cookie Company? What am I going to do without my chocolate chip cookies? Life is over as we know it. I’m actually destroyed right now.”

Matthew Morrison, a second year Mechanical Engineering major, said: “I don’t care. Smart Alec’s sucked and I’ve never been to the cookie place.”

Jorge Bugarin-Tello, a third year Integrative Biology major, said: “I’ll kill myself before they go out of business.”

Clearly, both Smart Alec’s and Pacific Cookie Company will be dearly missed. On the bright side – if there is one in this sad time – Berkeley still has tons of food options close to campus.

Now, we may mourn the loss of these fine dining choices. But in time, we will find another salad and another cookie to replace the holes that Smart Alec’s and Pacific Cookie Company left in our hearts.

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