"Sad News Guys," read the sign Terri Doolittle hung in front of Auntie Anne's Pretzels yesterday. The sign let people know they had until 5 p.m. to buy what might be their last Auntie Anne's pretzel on College Avenue.

After three and a half years of business, the store at 352 E. College Ave. closed its doors yesterday.

Paul Novoshielski, the store's owner, said he is closing the store because of poor sales during the past two and a half years.

Doolittle said she found out on Saturday that she would soon be unemployed.

Three days later, a teary Doolittle brought Iza Doolittle, her daughter and employee, to the store for moral support.

"I just can't close the store forever by myself," she said.

As they formed pretzels on giant silver trays and dipped them in sugar, they repeatedly explained the situation to shocked customers.

One of the customers drawn into the store by the sign was Edgar Jaen of Puerto Rico, who was in State College visiting his friend, a regular costumer of the store.

"We were just walking by here the other day and she said, 'These are so good you'll have to try one,' " he said. "I almost didn't get a chance."

Dina Matthews (senior-nursing) and Julie Day (senior-nursing) decided against eating muffins in the HUB in order to buy one last pretzel.

"I love these pretzels," Day said. "We're from Philadelphia and soft pretzels are really a Philly thing so this was sort of like a taste of home for us."

Doolittle said she will be working on inventory today with a representative from Auntie Anne's Inc. corporate headquarters. After that, her plans are uncertain.

She said there may be a chance that a new owner will reopen the store as an Auntie Anne's.

Diana Frantz, marketing coordinator for Auntie Anne's corporate office in Gap, Pa., said she could not comment on any future plans for the store until next week.

Doolittle said the store has become a State College tradition, adding that alumni often make a stop to get a pretzel there.

"I've got a lot of comments from people today who said they have been in a lot of Auntie Anne's stores, but the ones in here always taste the best," she said.

Collegian Staff Writer Scott Dodd contributed to this report.