Local restaurant kicked out of student union in favor of national chain

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A food fight is breaking out at the University of New Mexico, but no food is flying. Instead, a couple of well-known restaurants on campus are being forced to move, and the owners of those restaurants are not happy.

They're being replaced by a national restaurant chain in the UNM Student Union, and say they feel the university should stick with local businesses.

However, UNM says there's a very good reason for the change.

The Times Square Deli Express and Sahara Mediterranean Café share a space in the Student Union food court, which are both owned by the same family.

The restaurants have been there for more than five years, but when UNM students return next fall, they will be gone.

"I was shocked to hear the news," said Tom Khalil, who owns the restaurants.

He showed KOB the letter he got Thursday that said his deal with the university had been terminated, and which also gave him one month to remove all his property from the campus, including a second location on north campus.

"If there was a problem that happened on campus I would understand, but there was zero problems, and now we have a couple dozen employees that have families, mortgages and rent without jobs," said Tony Nesheiwat, who also owns the restaurants with Khalil, his brother-in-law.

But it's not just the financial hit that makes them upset – it's the fact that a national sandwich chain is taking their place.