For 28 years, students at UC Riverside celebrated sports victories, took breaks from finals and fueled their term papers, and maybe an occasional doctoral dissertation, at the Getaway Cafe.

The dark bar was a hangout at Bannockburn Village, a mixed-use housing complex on the campus outskirts.

All that came to a likely end around 1 a.m. Wednesday morning, when owner Shahram Sabbagh closed the Getaway Cafe three hours later than usual, and for what might be the last time.

Shahram Sabbagh, owner of the Getaway Cafe, tells UCR students who stopped in for lunch that his popular restaurant is closed in Riverside on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Sabbagh has been evicted by UCR, who owns the site, due to falling behind in rent by what Sabbagh says has been an over 30 percent increase in rent over the past 2 years and a power bill of approximately $3,500 per month which used to be included in his rent. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Shahram Sabbagh, owner of the Getaway Cafe, tells UCR students who stopped in for lunch that his popular restaurant is closed in Riverside on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Sabbagh has been evicted by UCR, who owns the site, due to falling behind in rent by what Sabbagh says has been an over 30 percent increase in rent over the past 2 years and a power bill of approximately $3,500 per month which used to be included in his rent. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Sabbagh is shutting down in a dispute with the university, his landlord, and began clearing out a few hours later.

Sabbagh announced the closure last week on Instagram, prompting waves of love from former customers and an online petition urging the university to keep it going.

Interviewed Tuesday in a storeroom, he said UCR raised his rent and began charging the cost of power as an add-on, while it was covered before. This happened in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that hit in 2020 and took away his customer base.

Irma Martinez, a cook for 20 years at the Getaway Cafe across the street from the University of Riverside, points to UCR sports memorabilia on the walls of the popular restaurant Wednesday, April 30, 2025. The owner, Shahram Sabbagh, has been evicted by UCR, who owns the site, due to falling behind in rent by what Sabbagh says has been an over 30 percent increase in rent over the past 2 years and a power bill of approximately $3,500 per month which used to be included in his rent. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Irma Martinez, a cook for 20 years at the Getaway Cafe across the street from the University of Riverside, points to UCR sports memorabilia on the walls of the popular restaurant Wednesday, April 30, 2025. The owner, Shahram Sabbagh, has been evicted by UCR, who owns the site, due to falling behind in rent by what Sabbagh says has been an over 30 percent increase in rent over the past 2 years and a power bill of approximately $3,500 per month which used to be included in his rent. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

“For 2½ years the school was shut down, and when the school came back on it was all online. So we had a hard time recovering what we lost.”

That was all on top of the rising cost of food and labor. “We just couldn’t survive it,” he said.

Representatives for UC Riverside issued the following statement.

“The university has worked with the owner of Getaway Café for several years to remain in the location. Also, during the COVID-19 pandemic, UCR excused all retail tenants from paying rent. Regrettably, the establishment is in serious default with payments, and UCR has been compelled to file an unlawful detainer action. The deadline for the tenant to respond is April 30.”

“All he’s asking for is extra time,” said Allyssa Richards, a fourth-year plant biology doctoral student who has been a frequent diner at the restaurant during her academic career.

Shahram Sabbagh, left, owner of the Getaway Cafe for 29 years across the street from the University of Riverside, works to remove an ice making machine as he begins the move out process on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Sabbagh has been evicted by UCR, who owns the site, due to falling behind in rent by what Sabbagh says has been an over 30 percent increase in rent over the past 2 years and a power bill of approximately $3,500 per month which used to be included in his rent. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Shahram Sabbagh, left, owner of the Getaway Cafe for 29 years across the street from the University of Riverside, works to remove an ice making machine as he begins the move out process on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Sabbagh has been evicted by UCR, who owns the site, due to falling behind in rent by what Sabbagh says has been an over 30 percent increase in rent over the past 2 years and a power bill of approximately $3,500 per month which used to be included in his rent. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

She and her friends came up with the petition over “really great pizza.” Posted online at change.org, it has received nearly 2,400 verified signatures and captured the attention of Los Angeles media, including ABC7.

Sabbagh said he loves students and did all he could to support UCR during his 28 years in business.

Paddles from Greek organizations hang on one of the walls, and athletic jerseys cover walls and ceilings — not just baseball and basketball but fencing, rugby, men’s and women’s soccer.

“If you look at the ceiling, you’ll see maybe a 10th of the shirts we sponsored.”

The Getaway Cafe was known for its pizzas as well as “Getaway Towers,” 3.4-liter dispensers that customers could fill with their beer of choice.

Sabbagh said his most popular dish was Blazing Chicken Pizza, made with white sauce, but added that customers appreciate his fresh ingredients, including house-made pizza sauce with fresh tomatoes.

Richards said she likes the “all cheese” pizza, made with about nine cheeses. She isn’t the only one.

Customers began arriving early for the last night. At 3 p.m., the line at the counter was 10 people deep. At about 7 p.m., the line was snaking through the dining room and into a back room with pool tables.

One of the customers was UCR senior Matthew Hagan, who was recruiting signatures for a letter he wrote to chancellor Kim Wilcox to keep the place open. He predicted he would have 1,000 by Wednesday morning.

Irma Martinez, a cook for 20 years at the Getaway Cafe across the street from the University of Riverside, looks at 2 boards filled with signatures from UCR students wanting the restaurant to remain open in Riverside on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. The owner, Shahram Sabbagh, has been evicted by UCR, who owns the site, due to falling behind in rent by what Sabbagh says has been an over 30 percent increase in rent over the past 2 years and a power bill of approximately $3,500 per month which used to be included in his rent. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Irma Martinez, a cook for 20 years at the Getaway Cafe across the street from the University of Riverside, looks at 2 boards filled with signatures from UCR students wanting the restaurant to remain open in Riverside on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. The owner, Shahram Sabbagh, has been evicted by UCR, who owns the site, due to falling behind in rent by what Sabbagh says has been an over 30 percent increase in rent over the past 2 years and a power bill of approximately $3,500 per month which used to be included in his rent. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

When he announced the closure, Sabbagh put up a big sheet of paper for customers to autograph. It filled up in two hours. One message with a frowning face reads: “OMG!!! What will I do without all the cheese. You guys are the best! Now reopen!”

Shahram Sabbagh, owner of the Getaway Cafe for 29 years across the street from the University of Riverside, walks past a truck loaded with restaurant equipment as he begins the move out process in Riverside on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Sabbagh has been evicted by UCR, who owns the site, due to falling behind in rent by what Sabbagh says has been an over 30 percent increase in rent over the past 2 years and a power bill of approximately $3,500 per month which used to be included in his rent. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Shahram Sabbagh, owner of the Getaway Cafe for 29 years across the street from the University of Riverside, walks past a truck loaded with restaurant equipment as he begins the move out process in Riverside on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Sabbagh has been evicted by UCR, who owns the site, due to falling behind in rent by what Sabbagh says has been an over 30 percent increase in rent over the past 2 years and a power bill of approximately $3,500 per month which used to be included in his rent. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Sabbagh said on Tuesday he hoped the intervention would work but that he didn’t think it was likely.

“I certainly hope UCR is willing to listen to the patrons,” he said. “But there’s extremely little hope, because if there was any we would have heard something by now.”


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