Student launched late-night burger business. Why won’t UK let him have a sign?
A student-operated restaurant in the University of Kentucky campus has hit a major roadblock: The university itself.
UK senior Mohamed Weheba has operated L8NITE Fast Food inside the UK Cornerstone building at 401 S. Limestone for more than a year. The ambitious public-private university project opened in 2020 with an esports theater and local food hall, including beer and pizza, connected to a new parking garage. But few restaurants appear to have stayed long.
L8NITE has built a following among fellow university night owls, who enjoy the restaurant’s menu of burgers, chicken tenders and fries and more — plus it’s within walking distance of campus and available on delivery apps.
But Weheba said the school has ordered him to remove the lighted signs outside his restaurant, leaving him without a way to advertise on the ground to potential customers.
Weheba has a portable LED sign he rolls in and out every night on the Winslow Street side of the building, which so far hasn’t been a problem. But after he put up another sign on the South Limestone side, he got a letter from his landlord telling him to take it down or face eviction for violating UK’s standards.
He posted about the letter on Reddit over the Labor Day weekend, and drew surprised comments: “People said they don’t even realize there are businesses inside,” Weheba said. “We’re inside this big, gray building.”
He said he’s spent 10 minutes on the phone with Doordashers trying to find the restaurant to pick up orders.
“It’s counterproductive,” he said. “UK wanted (The Cornerstone) to showcase local vendors, but I’m not sure how they expect anyone to survive without signage.”
Other vendors in UK buildings have been allowed lighted signs.
UK spokesman Jay Blanton said that the businesses inside The Cornerstone do have signs.
“We are working with our vendors to continue to improve their experience, including things like signage,” Blanton said in a statement. “At the same time, we must ensure that all these efforts match both our brand standards and the quality we want and expect in our facilities.”
Via message, Blanton said signs are allowed that fit “with the area, other buildings and other interests. ... different buildings, different contexts, different needs.”
It is unclear exactly how L8NITE’s lighted sign violates UK’s policies.
Weheba pointed out his outside sign is dwarfed UK’s four-story, two-sided lighted LED billboard.
“I’d love to become part of the UK student culture, be a place they can go to on the weekends. I just wish I could have some form of signage,” Weheba said. He said that he’s seeking a meeting with someone to make his case for a better way to draw in customers.
On Wednesday, after the Herald-Leader contacted UK, Weheba said he was contacted by Heath Price, associate vice president for partnerships at UK.
Via email, Price confirmed that he “agreed to meet soon to discuss signage options in future.”
But Weheba’s sign must come down, at least for now.
“I still got the same old ‘We can’t let you have signs because of rules and regulations,’ and I pointed out how Barnes and Nobles has a huge sign on the student center right down the street. And so does the Korean Cuisine across the corner in a UK building,” Weheba said. “UK insists that their guidelines do not allow me to have exterior signage despite letting other businesses on campus have signage.”
L8NITE Fast Food
Where: 401 S Limestone, Lexington KY 40508 Stall 104, inside the Cornerstone building
Hours: Sunday through Wednesday noon to 2 a.m., Thursday, Friday and Saturday noon to 3 a.m.
Online: l8nite.com
This story was originally published September 5, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
