DENTON, Texas — A Denton sandwich shop is fighting to stay open after the University of North Texas sent them a letter, threatening eminent domain.
New York Sub Hub is located at 906 Avenue C, which is right across the street from UNT.
Hunter Christiansen's father moved to Texas from New Jersey and opened the sub shop 40 years ago. In 2012, Christiansen took over and started running New York Sub Hub, which is sandwiched between Oriental Express, a Chinese fast food restaurant and Naranja Café.
“Late June, we got a letter from UNT – along with the other three businesses right here – about UNT expressing interest of wanting our property and even doing eminent domain on it," Christiansen said. "So for the past month, we’ve been under a time-frame of 30 days to respond to UNT with either a yes, no, counter offer and all that stuff."
Christiansen says the 30 days expires this weekend.
“We were under the impression that we had to respond," Christiansen said. "We’ve spoken to a lawyer, and legally, we don’t have to respond. As of now, we’re just (trying to) figure out our plan of attack here, and how we can get ourselves to stay.”
UNT released a statement Friday saying, “With a university community of nearly 45,000 people, we have outgrown our existing space. The campus borders severely restrict where we can seek additional land to build necessary infrastructure. Our ever-growing community needs more classrooms, labs and housing to continue delivering the quality educational experience our community deserves. We are offering well above appraised market value for the properties.”
Christiansen understands the land his business sits on is perfect. Perfect for his sub shop, that is.
“Over the 40 years, we’ve seen UNT grow,” Christiansen said. “We’re 100 yards from the UNT campus. And that could be upwards of 40,000 potential customers. We’re another 100 yards from I-35 so people can get off easily and get back on easily. It’s the perfect location.”
The sub shop owner says they’re exploring all options, but the bottom line is: They want to stay put.
Relocation is not in the cards for them at this point and the building itself has been in the family for too long.
“I just think that there’s a better solution that can work (for) everybody and not just set us to the side and do what they want. This location is not going to stop the progress of UNT so we’ll see,” Christiansen said.
Christiansen says he hopes he and his family can sit down with the university and work something out.
“It’s not just a business,” said Christiansen. “We know a lot of our customers on a personal level. (I was) talking to one yesterday: If we leave here, I may never see him again.”
The sub shop’s Change.org petition has over 20,000 signatures.