The Observer, September 22, 2006
Volume XXXIX, Issue 4
Case loses late-night snack shop
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Late-night carb-cravers beware. Little Italy's doughnut and pastry shop, AJ's (formerly Gilly's), is closing its doors forever on Sept. 24.
The property, owned by Presti's, was remodeled a few years ago and the deep-fryers were taken out. This meant no more fresh doughnuts in Little Italy. All the baking currently takes place at another AJ's shop in Concord, about 20 miles from Little Italy. Products are then bused to the Mayfield Road location.
There was a lot of speculation that high gas prices led to the closing, because of how expensive it must have been to transport all that food. But Jennie McKeon, an employee at AJ's, says that it just got to be too much for the owners to handle; they both work full-time at Progressive and run the shop in Concord.
As to why Little Italy is closing instead of the Concord location, it might just be a bit more lucrative. In addition to doughnuts and pastries, the Concord shop also makes bread and pizza. It also has a prime location in a shopping area.
The Case student body is reacting strongly to the closing. Some students could only pout. "I'm very, very sad," said Amanda Mallott, a senior. "It's the end of a tradition."
Many students said that they had been hearing about the late-night doughnut spot before they even enrolled at Case, from student ambassadors and on tours. It was part of the total Case package.
"It's a small part of what makes Case special – our local late night bakery," said Jenna Vergotz, a senior. "I went there as a prospective and have taken many prospectives there myself."
Not only are students losing a doughnut shop, they are also losing a tradition. "It was especially a freshman and sophomore year tradition. It was the thing that your orientation leader talked about," said Aabha Jain, a senior. "And it was the late night spot. Everything on campus closes at ten."
"I only went there late at night," said Nihir Bhavsar, a junior. "And it was the only place to get doughnuts nearby."
"It's one of the saddest things I've heard all year," said Carolyn Heine, a junior. "It made me sad to realize that I wouldn't have memories at Gilly's doughnuts anymore."
There is no word yet as to what is coming next. The only certain thing is that students will be hoping for another late-night snack fix.
