Cravings that accompany late night studying are a familiar predicament for many University of Memphis students. Students have searched for a great place to take a break from studying without breaking their wallet.
Some sweet-toothed students claim Gibson's Doughnuts to be the best place for a late night sugar break.
Gibson's Doughnuts, located at 760 Mt. Moriah, is a 24-hour diner that specializes in making doughnuts and providing a great relaxing atmosphere. The cafÈ also fits comfortably into the college student's budget. After 11 p.m., the day's doughnuts are sold for a reduced price; $1 a dozen.
The orange sponge painted walls and flying cows that hang from the ceiling attract students who just need to get away. The cheap doughnuts are just a side item on the late night plate.
"It's a cool place to go," said Frank Cardenas, a junior political science major. "We go in a group, just to hang out."
Cardenas, a resident advisor in Richardson Towers, held a program at Gibson's for his residents last year.
"A lot of people showed up, about 50 or so. We just sat and ate doughnuts and had a great time," he said.
One of Cardenas's residents, Joseph Jackson, said he enjoyed the trip.
"Frank took us to Gibson's and bought us some doughnuts. The doughnuts were good," said Jackson, a sophomore music business major. "I haven't really had the need for doughnuts (this year)."
The Gibson's legacy is a long-standing Memphis tradition.
Gibson's Doughnuts, the only one of its kind, has been offering great-tasting pastries since 1967 according to Billie Cocke, a clerk at the diner for almost 24 years.
"I like to be here. I like to have something to do," she commented of her long tenure at the cafÈ.
Cocke said Gibson's started offering reduced price doughnuts about the time the new owners, the DeWeese family, bought the bakery.
"They are going to go out anyway. Sometimes a charity picks up some, but we cook fresh every day," she said.
Gibson's used to be populated by high school students, but "that was a long time ago," Cocke said.
It seems as though mostly U of M students now inhabit the all night diner.
John Canter, a sophomore graphic design major, said he heard about Gibson's Doughnuts last year outside Richardson Towers.
"I would go last year when I had a good craving for some doughnuts, or when I knew I would need breakfast in the morning," he said.
Other students go to Gibson's just for the fun of going.
"If it is 3 or 4 in the morning and we have no other place to go, we go to Gibson's," Dallas Marqui, sophomore piano major said.
Marqui said he goes to Gibson's "when I'm hungry and there's nothing else open. It's cheap."
It's good, too, according to the student patrons.
"I love the raspberry filled ones, but there usually aren't any left," Cardenas said. "It's a race to see who gets the last Bavarian cream doughnut," said Canter.
