First Place: EuroGyro
Located on the corner of downtown Kent, sandwiched between a Firestone shop and a public parking garage, the common eye just might miss it.
Despite a seemingly small-looking exterior at a glance, EuroGyro, a diamond in the rough-type establishment, has once again been named the king of late-night-eats in Kent.
“We’re happy that people recognize us for the late night food, because that’s what we’re about,” said Steve Plotts, a delivery driver who’s known as “the pizza man” to staff.
Open from 10:30 a.m. to 3 a.m., except for Sunday which is 10:30 a.m. to 2 a.m., EuroGyro dominates the late-night scene with its long hours and food options.
The establishment features a large menu of European and American-style cuisine. According to Plotts, the most popular items are the pizzas, chicken wings and gyros. His personal favorite being the chicken tenders and jojo fries.
“The core people who work here have been here for a really long time,” Plotts said. “We have everything pretty down pat. Everything is really consistent. We always put out good food at fair prices.”
Those fair prices are a big reason why EuroGyro is so relevant to students and locals as well. As a former Kent State student himself, Plotts knows the importance of offering lower prices compared to the competition.
“I tried to eat wherever I could, that was the cheapest,” he said. “The lower the prices, the more people you get in.”
Employees and ownership also do their best to create a reason to visit EuroGyro each and every night. It features daily food specials, pool tables an outdoor patio local music and a full drink menu that also has daily specials. To Plotts, those “fun” offerings make the EuroGyro experience a memorable one.
“We just try to make it a spot where people want to come and hang out and eat and drink,” he said. “We’re the first spot you hit when you’re downtown and the last spot on the way out.”
Plotts has worked at EuroGyro for over 17 years, and he said the job has given him joy and freedom like no other. He said the best part about it has always been the people.
“We’ve had [particular people] coming in as long as I’ve worked here,” Plotts said. “It’s just a nice place for the people in town and a good place for students to learn about the town.”
EuroGyro can be found at 107 S. Depeyster St., or reached at 330-678-4976.
Second Place: Guys Pizza
Kent’s late-night scene wouldn’t be complete without the mention of Guys Pizza, which similarly to EuroGyro, has long dominated this category.
“It feels pretty nice that we still have a great fanbase,” Jayden Rhodes, a manager, said. “It’s great to be a part of the tradition of downtown.”
Guys Pizza specializes in offering quick food service to feed the masses of downtown on late-night weekend bar crawls. To Rhodes, that’s the main reason the establishment is so relevant to consumers.
“Not a lot of people want to wait like 20 minutes when you’re drunk to eat something,” she said. “At Guys Pizza [you] can get a slice in like a minute.”
The food and prices are also a big reason why Guys Pizza is a mainstay for every late night trip around downtown. Rhodes said the sliced and whole cheese, and pepperoni pizza options are the best sellers, and that the guyzones are also popular amongst customers.
The eatery’s weekend hours allow for anyone venturing throughout the night to find a time to stop by for a bite. Guys Pizza is open until 3 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and midnight on Thursdays.
“I feel like we just bring a happiness to downtown Kent,” Rhodes said. “You’re always going to have a good time, and hopefully we have what you want. Especially if you’re drunk, pizza is always good.”
Rhodes said her favorite part of Guys Pizza is the close-knit family atmosphere of the employees. She added that getting recognized by customers around the city is always a cool moment.
“I have so many regulars who I’ll see at the grocery store, and they’re like ‘Oh my God, Guys Pizza,’” Rhodes said. “And they’re always just like ‘You’re my favorite one who works there.”’
Guys Pizza can be found at 146 S. Water St., or reached at 330-678-5368.
Third Place: Insomnia Cookies
In need of a sweet treat late at night? Fear not, Insomnia’s got you covered. The shop offers a variety of dessert options for those looking to satisfy their sweet-tooth cravings.
Ashley Edgar, a general manager, said Insomnia employees work very hard to make it a desirable location for nights out.
“We just love to keep the store clean, and we love to make sure that the cookies are baked fresh,” she said. “We always keep a fun environment.”
The store’s open until 1 a.m. on weeknights, and 3 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Some of the most popular items include the classic chocolate chunk and snickerdoodle cookies, and the deluxe chocolate peanut butter cup and s’mores cookies, according to Edgar. She added that the limited-time-only cookies are also big sellers.
To Edgar, the combination of tasty treats with good customer service is why people always keep coming back.
“We ensure fresh, warm cookies,” she said. “As soon as [customers] come in, we’ll give them a nice smile and ask them how their day was. … Just to make sure they have a good day.”
After working at Insomnia for about four years, Edgar said she loves the atmosphere of the shop and college-town setting of Kent.
“When we have downtime, we pretty much just like to enjoy each other’s company, and then we’ll just go back to doing what we need to do,” she said. “We’ll stock; we’ll bake. Pretty much just always keep busy.”
Insomnia Cookies can be found at 295 S. Water St., or reached at 330-694-7024.
John Engoglia is the managing editor. Contact him at [email protected].
