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(From left) Jon Tran, a second-year sociology student, Hisae Tsutsumi, a second-year history stud

Late-night snackers might have to look off campus for their fix starting fall quarter 2006.

UCLA Dining Services has decided to close Puzzles after this quarter as part of a larger plan to reorganize eateries on the Hill.

Located on the Hill across from Covel Commons, Puzzles was opened after the completion of Sunset Village in 1991, and has been a staple for students looking for greasy late-night snacks or an alternative to the dining halls.

Its closure is part of a larger plan for on-campus Housing and Dining Services, said Connie Foster, associate director of Dining Services.

With the opening of Rieber Vista and Hedrick Summit, Foster said Housing and Dining Services have been working together to accommodate an increase in students on the Hill.

She said they have coordinated the opening of these new residences and Rendezvous, a new grab-and-go restaurant in Rieber Terrace, to coincide with the closure of Sproul Hall next year, so that Puzzles will be closed when the fewest number of students live nearby.

With last year’s opening of Bruin Cafe, which serves a menu of sandwiches and soups, and the upcoming opening of Rendezvous, which will serve a mix of Latin American and Asian food, Puzzles is no longer the primary alternative to dining halls for many students.

Ali Mashhoon, a first-year mechanical engineering student, said he prefers Bruin Cafe, but added that Puzzles has served as an easy alternative to walking to Westwood for late-night food.

“It’s open when you need food,” Mashhoon said.

Katrina Fischer, a second-year microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics student, said she also prefers Bruin Cafe.

“(Puzzles is) for preventing hangovers and (serves) the late-night snackers,” she joked.

Foster said Puzzles’ closure is intended to give Dining Services a chance to evaluate the restaurant and renovate its location. Though she said it is possible that Puzzles will reopen after renovation, that will not be determined until after the evaluation.

She said the closure will coincide with an extension of the hours for Rendezvous, which will initially be open this quarter from 2 to 8 p.m.

Once Puzzles closes, Rendezvous will be open mornings and nights – though Foster said the specific hours haven’t been decided – and along with Bruin Cafe, will provide the same breakfast foods that Puzzles currently serves.

But Foster said Rendezvous will not be open past midnight, which concerns the student-run On Campus Housing Council.

Chair Danielle Malvini said there will no longer be a restaurant on the Hill open during the week from midnight to 2 a.m., a troubling fact for some students.

“It’s sad,” said first-year political science student Mike de Carlo, adding that Puzzles is a late-night haven for those returning from parties or outings. “Where else are you going to go at 1:30 (a.m. for food)?”

Currently, Bruin Cafe is open until 2 a.m. on Sunday and Friday, while Puzzles is open until 2 a.m. on all other days. Foster said there were no immediate plans to extend Bruin Cafe’s hours.

Dining Services has discussed the situation with students and OCHC, and dining officials hope to work with students to evaluate and reshape UCLA’s on-campus dining situation to provide the convenience and food options Puzzles once satisfied.

Malvini said Dining Services contacted OCHC recently to discuss possible problems as a result of Puzzles’ closure, and OCHC wants to make sure residents will have all the same food options, even after Puzzles is closed.

Dining Services is working to make sure students still have access to items such as chili-cheese fries, hot dogs and hamburgers, Foster said.

This may be done by changing the role of Crossroads, a Mexican food eatery located in the Tom Bradley International Student Center, which Foster said is also being evaluated and may become more similar to Puzzles so as to best fit the needs of students.

Even with these measures to maintain food options in the wake of Puzzles’ closure, many students said they still wish Puzzles would stay open.

“I’ll miss the curly fries,” first-year psychobiology student Washington Park said about the closing of Puzzles, while eating at the restaurant last Wednesday night.

Second-year economics student Brandon Cho said removing Puzzles might ruin the nature of late-night eating on the Hill.

“Late nights (are when) you want that fatty snack,” Cho said.

With reports from Derek Lipkin, Bruin senior staff.