GRAND RAPIDS, MI — The Skywalk Deli customers do not appear willing to let their favorite breakfast and lunch spot go without a fight.

An online "Stop the eviction of Skywalk Deli" petition on Change.org has thus far garnered more than 700 signatures since it was started after the deli owner revealed Monday that he was being asked to vacate by new downtown landlords.

Owner Chris Fehsenfeld said that Franklin Partners LLC, a Chicago-based real estate firm which bought the Comerica building at 99 Monroe Ave NW in June, gave him until December because the firm wants to bring a Panera Bread franchise into the building.

Fehsenfeld said he would be unable to compete with a Panera bakery café if one were brought in underneath him, and was told that Panera “wouldn’t sign if there was another deli in the building.”

Related: Skywalk Deli closing; owner says new landlords want Panera Bread instead

Franklin Partners executives wouldn’t comment on the situation but confirmed that no lease had been signed as of Monday. Gary Tamminga, Franklin director of facilities, refused to say whether there had been any movement on that front.

“We don’t have any comment on anything,” said Tamminga, who also would not speak to allegations made by MLive readers under Monday’s story that the deli owners have been behind on rent payments.

Don Shoemaker, Franklin Partners president, did not return a message left Wednesday, and Ann Ficeli with Colliers International, former property manager for Westminster Campau LLC, a real estate trust that sold the building to Franklin, was not immediately available.

Related: Chicago firm planning Comerica building upgrades, facelift

On Wednesday, Fehsenfeld said that when occupancy of the building fell drastically under Westminster’s ownership during the recession, he did fall behind on some rent payments, but worked out an agreement with the group to cover the debts. He said he is current on rent with the new owners.

Several MLive readers urged Fehsenfeld to stay the course and find a new spot downtown, something he said he'd consider but which would likely require a new name and branding, since the deli is named for the downtown pedestrian Skywalk that winds from DeVos Place to the Van Andel Arena.

The petition was started by Grand Rapids software engineer Jace Browning. Signers heaped praise on the deli's food quality and the character of owner Fehsenfeld. Chain businesses in general also took a bit of beating.

“The Skywalk Deli is a fantastic, affordable cafe that has a hard earned reputation. It's also one of a kind,” wrote Marjorie Steele. “Grand Rapids has enough chains — let's let 28th Street and Grandville keep their chains, while downtown keeps its local (and superior) businesses.”

David Draugalis took that sentiment one step further:

“Replacing a unique, quality, family run, business with a corporate restaurant is not good for downtown GR at all. I will make sure to tell everyone I know to never eat at the downtown Panera on principle alone.”