The quaint town of Sebastopol is grappling with a bureaucratic blunder that has paved the way for a Little Caesars pizza chain to set up shop in its downtown area, flouting a ban on such establishments. The ban, in effect since 2018, aims to preserve the town's local charm by excluding chain businesses with more than 25 locations from the downtown area. Regrettably, a recent oversight by city staff has inadvertently granted administrative approval to a company that clearly defies this ordinance.
A sign for the contentious Little Caesars appeared on Petaluma Avenue, catching Acre Pizza owner Steve DeCosse and other residents off guard. "There it was," DeCosse said, "Little Caesars. How the hell did that happen?" City officials have acknowledged the mistake, with Interim City Manager Mary Gourley confirming it was "an oversight on city staff's part," as reported by The Press Democrat. However, by the time the error was brought to light, permits had already been issued, and the city found itself unable to revoke them.
Despite the flub, not all locals oppose the arrival of Little Caesars. Some, like AJ Mercado, a local worker cited by CBS News, find the price point appealing. "For me specifically, I do like it. Because I'm a big fan of it," he stated. Nevertheless, there are many like Francesca Malerba-Locke, a local business owner, who feel that this undermines the uniqueness of their town. "Disappointing that a big mistake like this would go through," Malerba-Locke told CBS News, voicing concerns that such chains could displace more distinctive local eateries.
Councilmember Neysa Hinton expressed that the ultimate verdict will rest in the hands of the consumers. "The consumer now will decide whether they like it or not with their pocketbook. I point out we don't have a Burger King and we don't have a McDonald's in Sebastopol. They both went out of business," she indicated to CBS News. Despite the error, the city has taken steps to prevent similar oversights in the future. As for Little Caesars, they are expected to open their doors in downtown Sebastopol within the next week.
