New combination proves profitable

For a company that started out on Penn's campus, the cookie has crumbled pretty well.

At the beginning of the semester, Insomnia Cookies -- which was started more than three years ago at the Beige Block house of two Penn students -- returned to campus, opening in the 40th and Locust streets location occupied by Bucks County Coffee.

Previously, Insomnia, a late-night dessert-delivery service, had operated out of a location near Rittenhouse Square.

Now that the company bakes all of its products at Bucks, the coffee house has started to sell the cookies at many of its locations around Philadelphia. In total, the 40th and Locust Bucks now delivers cookies daily to 13 of the chain's stores.

As part of the deal, Insomnia has added Bucks County Coffee products to its late-night delivery menu.

The arrangement has worked out well for both companies.

"The two founders [Seth Berkowitz and Jared Barnett] who went to Penn are so happy to be back on campus," Insomnia spokeswoman Rebecca Stone said. "They think of Penn as their home."

Stone added that the arrangement with Bucks has been highly profitable for Insomnia, though she was not able to give any specific numbers.

Michael O'Malley, the University City area manager for Bucks, said that the deal made sense not only because it has been profitable, but because the coffee house at 40th and Locust streets simply had a lot of extra space.

"Our business is up dramatically," he said.

Because Bucks has recently added a number of new items to its menu, O'Malley said he is unsure to what extent Insomnia is responsible for the increase in business.

Still, he said that the store sells about six dozen cookies per day and delivers 15 to 20 espresso drinks each night through the Insomnia arrangement.

Bucks' also recently altered its hours and is now open to 3 a.m. although this was an independent business decision.

As the weather gets colder and companies increase advertising, O'Malley said he expects the late-night delivery sales to pick up. He also said that having the cookies in the store acts as an enticement for people to come inside.

Brenda Harkavy, a senior in the College who visits Bucks about five times a week, said that while she has never bought a cookie, her friends have often done so.

She added that though she sometimes orders cookies from Insomnia late at night, she would not be inclined to order coffee along with it.

"If we order cookies and then coffee, then we'll stay up all night," she said. "Unless I'm studying late, I don't want coffee."

Wharton senior Hans Kullberg, who goes to Bucks a few times each week, said that he was not aware that late-night coffee delivery was available.

Though he generally doesn't order cookies, he said, "I guess I would [order coffee] if my friends were to get cookies and it was free delivery."

Stone said that while Insomnia is currently content with its arrangement with Bucks, the company would be interested in opening a storefront of its own on campus.

She added that the focus of the company will remain late-night dessert delivery.

In addition to serving the Penn and Drexel University campuses, Insomnia currently has locations at Syracuse University, the University of Illinois and the University of Maryland.

The company also plans to share space with a Bucks County Coffee in Princeton, N.J., beginning next semester.

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