Campus

Turkish fast food outlet opened on campus

The Döner Company has opened a new fast food outlet in the old post office on Mekelweg. The company has been looking in several cities for locations near universities and therefore close to its biggest target group: students.


Fans of doner kebabs and Turkish pizzas have had to be patient for a few years, but as of last month they have been able to get their favourite meals on campus. On the 4 December, the Döner Company opened a new outlet at Mekelweg 1.


The building, with its round façades next to StuD student employment agency, had been empty since 2010 because the post office that occupied it before had to close. Immediately rumours started to spread across campus about the new owner being a Turkish restaurant. Finally something other to eat than the options offered by in-house caterer Sodexo.

The Döner Company bought the building a year ago, according to a spokesperson. That year was spent obtaining the necessary building permit, which took quiet some work. But the company has patience, because it wants to be near its biggest target group: students. “We already have an outlet in one of Tilburg University’s buildings and we’re currently working towards opening another at Erasmus University Rotterdam,” according to the spokesperson.

Ibrahim Koҫ is franchise holder of the Delft outlet. He moved from Turkey to Delft in 1976, then worked at seven different Döner Company outlets. Now he’s back in Delft; his ‘old nest’, as he calls it.

Sitting at a table in his restaurant, he says that he is happy about how things have gone so far. “We need more customers, of course, but half of the students don’t know we’re here yet. But the people who do come are happy. They have even asked if we can stay open till midnight, instead of ten o’clock. Then they’d be able to order food from us after they’ve finished studying in the library. But we’re not ready for that yet.”

You wouldn’t know that this was once a post office. The façade has been replaced, as have the floors, the ceiling and various walls. “The building was completely renovated,” says Koҫ. And it’s not yet finished. He wants to talk to TU Delft about additional outdoor lighting and has applied to the local authority for an outdoor seating licence.

 


Dutch version: Turks eethuisje geopend op campus

Editor Redactie

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