The owner of the popular Northside food and snack shop Zak’s Snacks, Jamal Fares, is retiring from the shop Friday and passing the reins to new ownership.

Named after his son Zakaria, Fares founded Zak’s Snacks in 2011 and has operated it since. The small food shop, nestled at 1879 Euclid Ave., is frequented by students and locals for its mix of homemade food offerings.

Fares said the shop will be transferred to new ownership early next week.

After years behind his counter, Fares says his retirement plans include rest, visiting family and doing things he’s “put on hold for a long time.” Looking back at his time on Northside, he’s honored to have made people “from all over the world” happy through his service.

During the 40-plus years he’s been around UC Berkeley’s campus, Fares has opened and operated multiple businesses on Euclid Avenue. These include Hummingbird Cafe, which he opened and operated from 1998 to 2014, and smoothie shop Banana Sam’s, which he opened in 2005 and closed in 2015.

Fares said Zak’s Snacks does not “cut corners” on the quality of the food he serves, which he believes has earned his shop a “good reputation” among students. He believes in providing healthy food options over junk alternatives because students “need to be cared for” as “the future for this country.”

Fares said each of his regulars have different favorites on the menu. Some people “stick with something” while others “rotate.”

One of Fares’ favorite things to serve at Zak’s Snacks is its savory pie, which he said he frequently runs out of. He said the pies are something he is “so proud of.”

Zak’s Snacks also sells wraps, flatbreads, apple tarts, banana bread, pastas and more food items. Fares says they are all made on-site.

“It was an honor for me to serve so many generations … the hardest decision for me is to leave campus,” Fares said. “Honestly, I’m gonna miss it a lot.”

He says when the shop changes hands next week it will likely close “for a few weeks, maybe a month” for remodeling.

“It’s been a great opportunity for me,” Fares said. “I leave campus in peace, with no regret, no guilt, nothing. I delivered.”