More than 300 people have signed a petition calling for Ali Baba Middle Eastern Restaurant to be allowed to remain at its Grove Arcade location.

The restaurant was told last month that its lease would be terminated by the downtown shopping center, amid objections from some tenants that the businessí food odors were unpleasant.

Owners Fahti and Reda Ali say they have received an outpouring of community support since they learned of the arcadeís plans to evict them. More than 20 tenants of the arcade have signed the petitions asking for the restaurant to be allowed to stay.

Meanwhile, arcade management has said that the business will be allowed to stay while the matter is disputed in court.

At issue is the question of whether the Alisí lease allows them to cook on the premises. The Alis say their lease clearly does, but the Grove Arcade management disputes this.

The restaurant has operated within the arcade for 2-1/2 years.