Ever wanted to grab a late-night snack while having a good time with friends all from the comfort of being on campus? That’s what PacePerk Cafe is all about. Founded in 2010, the student-run business celebrated its 14th anniversary on Monday, April 15th from 9 p.m. to midnight. It was a space-themed celebration with food, music, games, and fun memories.
For the first hour, friends got together to eat food and have a good time. Starting at 10 p.m., a trivia game occurred. The prizes were Lubin merchandise, a giant box of chips, a spaceship plush, and a Galaxy Projector. The grand prize was AirPods. The winners all walked away very happy.
Some customers shared their thoughts on PacePerk’s appeals:
Q: Why do you enjoy coming to PacePerk?
Daniel DiBona ‘26: It’s something to do before I go back to my house because I commute here. It’s something to do at nighttime because people have fun and enjoy the atmosphere.
Q: What is your favorite part about PacePerk?
Brian M. ‘27: The arcades; I like to play Street Fighter. The food’s nice too and they gave away free shirts during the Eclipse by the ice cream truck.
Some workers talked about the PacePerk environment and why they work there:
Q: How would you describe the community at PacePerk?
Belle Duddie ‘26: The staff is pretty close-knit, I’d say most of us know each other. You’ll be working with your friends sometimes sharing laughs while you are doing your job. As for the community of customers that come in, it’s kind of a similar vibe. It’s all people that you know. I have friends come in all the time, they say hi to me throughout my shift.
Kendall Key ‘26: I also feel like when it comes to customers, it’s always nice when we have events because you always get different kinds of people with different personalities and different interests. So it’s always nice when we have gaming events and other fun theme nights. It’s always nice to get people with different personalities coming in.
Q: How did you decide on the Outer Space theme for this year’s party?
Belle Duddie ‘26: I tossed a bunch of ideas around; I even had a whole list planned out before the semester even started. I went through what we used to do in past years, and I was just thinking of something fun that fits the vibe. We got new arcade machines in the fall, so I thought, maybe there’s a way we can tie that in there. I thought space would be a cool vibe for Perk because we’re nightlife-themed, especially with the baby lights here, so I knew we could do it justice.
Q: How has working at PacePerk changed your perspective on Pace University?
Kendall Key ‘26: I feel like the Pleasantville campus doesn’t get enough credit regarding opportunities. I feel like New York City’s campus often overshadows it, but once you go to Pleasantville, you start to realize there are so many opportunities here with the 5 student-run businesses. I learned that you can always find opportunities.
Q: How do you feel about working at night? The other student-run businesses are open during the day, but you all work evenings to the early morning. What’s that like?
Belle Duddie ‘26: I’m personally a night owl, I know that’s not everybody’s forte but I like working at night because I can do everything I need to do during the day. I can come here, knock my shift out, shower, go to bed, and then be ready for the next day without stressing about work in the morning.
Kendall Key ‘26: I feel like it’s convenient because most classes end at 9 so you don’t have to worry about having to work in the day. It can sometimes be tiring, but it works out since you don’t have to worry about whether it will fit your schedule.
*NOTE: The questions have been edited for clarity purposes.
The night was both a tribute to PacePerk’s success so far and also a party for students to come have fun. Here’s hoping next year’s anniversary is another great one.