University of Texas student petitions for an H-E-B to replace Austin's Church of Scientology "Sorry, not happening," a representative from the Church of Scientology said.

A University of Texas student has other plans for Austin's Church of Scientology of Texas location – a new H-E-B store. A University of Texas student has other plans for Austin's Church of Scientology of Texas location – a new H-E-B store. Image 1 of / 33 Caption Close University of Texas student petitions for an H-E-B to replace Austin's Church of Scientology 1 / 33 Back to Gallery

A University of Texas student has other plans for Austin’s Church of Scientology of Texas location near campus – a new H-E-B store.

In an online petition addressed to President Barack Obama, sophomore Abhishek Deb is asking to “Replace Church of Scientology with HEB on Guadalupe Street.”

“The Church of Scientology takes up prime real estate on Guadalupe Street that could better service the local community and UT students by replacing it with an HEB,” Deb wrote in the petition.

RELATED: H-E-B debuts its first two-story market in Texas

According to the Austin American Statesman, Deb is studying electrical engineering at UT. He told the paper the petition was based on satire and didn’t expect it to gain as a many signatures as it did – 1,557 people have given their online backing as of Monday at noon.

“It was addressed to President Barack Obama, who obviously has no power over the situation, and it isn’t a viable solution to uproot an institution like the church,” the student told the Statesman. “And the really crudely drawn Photoshop picture on the petition was meant to show that it was being satirical. It’s interesting to see how it took off.”

A post on Deb’s Facebook page asked his friends to sign the petition for his government class.

One of the supporters signed because “scientology is a predatory scam” and “HEB has a huge selection of hummus,” they said on Change.org.

Cathy Norman, the church’s director of special affairs, told mySA.com in a phone interview that the group has been a part of the Austin community since 1963 and moved into the 2200 Guadalupe St. location, across from the UT campus, in 1980.

RELATED: Southern Baptists set to pay $6 million to worship in what once was a massive West Texas nightclub

She said the location serves “several hundred” members across Texas, including some UT students.

“It’s true, it would be nice to have an HEB in this neighborhood,” she said. “But not here, sorry not happening.”

Norman added the church has no plans to move from their facilities. Instead, they’re in the process of planning a multi-million dollar renovation that will include adding an additional floor to the building.

RELATED: San Antonio petition demands Austin to exile writer who thinks they're the taco birthplace

“We’re not bothered by it (the petition,)” she said. “It’s an invitation to hate speech, but it’s mostly a joke.”

The church may not house a multi-level H-E-B, but see some other cool locations in the gallery above.

mmendoza@mysa.com

Twitter: @MaddySkye