Sebastopol city staff mistakenly approved a permit for a Little Caesars pizza chain in the downtown area, which has been under a ban on chain businesses since 2018.
The Press Democrat reports city officials confirmed the approval was an “oversight” but say the permit cannot be revoked. The news has angered local business owners who fear the impact of national chains on the town’s unique character.
The owners, Gurdip Pahal & Family released a statement: “We’re a family-owned small business, and we’re proud to be opening our next Little Caesars in Sebastopol. Our family has lived and worked in this region for years, and we already operate restaurants in Rohnert Park, Windsor, Santa Rosa, among other locations in the area. We are proud to be franchisees for the Little Caesars brand, which is the only major national pizza chain that is still family owned and operated.
We know how much Sebastopol values its character, and our goal is to contribute to the community, not change it. We followed the city’s permitting process in good faith, are honored that we were approved to join this vibrant community and are focused on serving our neighbors and supporting local organizations. We can’t wait to meet everyone for our grand opening celebration in the coming weeks.”
