To the Irvine Company,

We the students, staff, alumni, and community members of UC Irvine request the renewal of Kochee Kabob’s retail lease for the minimum of the next five years.

Over the past 12 years, Kochee Kabob has become a University Town Center staple and a vital part of the greater Irvine community. This family-owned business has brought an authentic, unparalleled character to UTC since its opening in 2004. Throughout this time, Kochee Kabob has gathered the loyal support of students, alumni, and staff of UC Irvine, as well as Irvine residents from neighboring communities. Among these customers, an impressive amount of support comes from the Muslim students, faculty, and staff of UC Irvine, who turn to Kochee Kabob as one of the few providers of halal food options within reasonable distance from campus. While the UC System has made significant strides towards providing halal food options for Muslim students, many of these options are inaccessible to those who do not live in dorms, leaving students with very limited access to food that adheres to their religious dietary guidelines. Additionally, Kochee Kabob has been an accessible source of affordable nutritious options for students, and its removal would have a detrimental effect on student food security.

Recently, UTC’s smaller, family-owned restaurants have been replaced by unaffordable corporate businesses that do not accommodate the financial budget of students, further neglecting the inclusion of student food access. It is apparent by the demographics of these diners that the restaurants are catered to older Irvine residents with a large income and not to the students, majority of whom are taking loans, on financial aid, or are paying for tuition out of pocket. The University Town Center is called such because it is right across from the University of California Irvine, it is even decorated with anteaters to show pride in our anteater family. Please help us be inclusive of all the minorities, demographics, and walks of life that our anteater family comes from by keeping Kochee Kabob, an affordable halal food option for students.

What you can do:

1. Call and email one or both of the following contacts:
Robin Bhalla

Leasing

(949) 720-5261

rbhalla@irvinecompany.com

Irvine Company Retail Properties

101 Innovation Drive, Irvine, CA 92617

(949) 720-2535

retail@irvinecompany.com

2. Come to Kochee Kabob on Monday, December 28th (may be the last time they are open)

3. Pass this petition to friends and family.

4. Tell your friends, colleagues and neighbors about this - ask them to call and email!