Alexis Brocious’ petition started as a joke, but then more than 300 people signed it.
Brocious, a 21-year-old UF animal biology junior, created an online petition Friday requesting that UF keep Einstein Bros. Bagels in the Hub. As of press time, the change.org petition has 336 signatures.
The restaurant is set to close at the end of Spring to expand Chick-fil-A so it can serve breakfast, according to Alligator archives. Chick-fil-A will take over the P.O.D. Market space, and the UF convenience store will move to Einstein Bros.’ current location.
Brocious said she didn’t want to lose access to the restaurant’s asiago bagels and iced lattes — and others like her soon spoke up. After posting her petition to the UF Class of 2018 and Class of 2020 Facebook groups, it gained 100 signatures in one day.
“I was like, ‘Oh, wow, this petition could actually do something,’” she said.
She plans to post the petition on more Facebook pages and send out bulk emails soon to get the word out. If it reaches 1,000, she plans to hand it to UF President Kent Fuchs, although she admits she doesn’t know if anything can be done to prevent the restaurant from closing; the changes are set to be done by Fall.
Brocious said some people who signed the petition said Einstein Bros. was cheaper or healthier than other campus restaurants.
Others cited its varied vegetarian options.
Thomas Moseley, a 20-year-old UF telecommunication junior, said he wants Chick-fil-A to expand so he can order off the breakfast menu, which includes egg-based sandwiches and breakfast platters.
“This is kind of a no-brainer for me,” he said. “The Chick-n-Minis are heavenly.”
Brocious said she understands many students prefer Chick-fil-A over Einstein Bros., but she thinks the P.O.D. Market should go.
Moseley agreed.
“I don’t think a lot of people go to the P.O.D. Market, so that’s a compromise,” he said. “Everybody would be happy.”
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