On the evening of Sept. 17, pajama-clad students and families made a pilgrimage to Insomnia Cookies, which opened on June 9 in the Claremont Village. This marked Claremont’s first celebration of the popular cookie-chain’s sixth annual National Pajama Party Night, an event held annually on the third Tuesday of September.
Insomnia Cookies is the only store in the Village open until 1 a.m.. The chain’s other locations – many of which are in college towns – attract students with late-night cravings. The Claremont Colleges might be Insomnia Cookies’ next victim.
Free cookies were only available to those who created a rewards account and wore pajamas, allowing rewards members to enjoy exclusive deals.
Upon arrival at the much-anticipated event, hopes were high for free cookies. The glow of blue lights from Insomnia Cookies illuminated the modest line which consisted primarily of families and several costume-clad chihuahuas.
Despite the manageable queue, the wait lasted 45 minutes due to dedicated early arrivers. The full moon provided a distinct atmosphere that enhanced the smell of freshly baked cookies.
One 5C attendee, Enya Kamadolli CM ’26, a self-proclaimed cookie connoisseur, commented on the treats.
“The flavor is excellent. Like this is a really good, chocolatey chocolate cookie. Not too sweet, not too rich,” Kamadolli said. “The texture is also fantastic. This cookie is crispy around the edges but chewy in the middle. [I] would eat these cold or hot which is not something I would do with most cookies.”
However, not everyone was as impressed as Kamadolli.
“I had a cookie. I don’t know what else to say?” Daniel Ballout CM ’27 said after trying the chocolate chunk cookie. “Six and a half out of 10.”
Seasonal offerings included pumpkin spice latte and cereal milk flavors.
Vivienne Arndt CM ’28 said she enjoyed the cereal milk-stuffed Fruity Pebbles cookie.
“I just took a delicious bite of a Fruity Pebbles cookie. There’s something on the inside. It’s so good,”Arndt said.
Flavors among the classic selection were chocolate chunk, double chocolate chunk, double chocolate mint, peanut butter, white chocolate macadamia nut, snickerdoodle, M&M’s, sugar and oatmeal raisin.
Keck Graduate University student Michelle Pham ’24 spoke about the Village’s importance in student life.
“Everything’s so close because we literally live right here. We just cross the street. There’s a movie theater, … restaurants [and] shopping,” Pham said.
Reflecting on the recent opening of Insomnia Cookies, Kathryn Dunn, the director of Claremont Village Marketing Group, said she is excited about student activity in the village.
“We’re very excited about strengthening our ties with the Claremont Colleges to entice students to come to the village and enjoy all the shops and entertainment that we have,” Dunn said.
The next time you are in the Village, look out for the Cookie Monster – it bites!
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