Little Caesars was accidentally approved, and now downtown Sebastopol is stuck with it

"Acre Pizza owner Steve DeCosse couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the bright orange sign on Sebastopol's main drag last month. There it was, he said. Little Caesars. How the hell did that happen? DeCosse isn't the only Sebastopol business owner or resident asking how a chain business defined by the city as a store or restaurant with 25 or more locations nationwide ended up in downtown Sebastopol, where such retail outlets have been banned since 2018."

"Little Caesars is the third-largest pizza chain in the world, with restaurants in every U.S. state and 27 countries and territories. The Sebastopol store is co-owned by Modesto-based brothers Gurdip Singh and Harcanb Khehara, who also own Little Caesars shops in Rohnert Park, Windsor and Santa Rosa. Singh said they had hoped to open the Sebastopol location by Halloween but received pushback from the city after it was discovered the brothers received the administrative approval for their restaurant in error."

"According to Interim City Manager Mary Gourley, the approval was an oversight on city staff's part. An Oct. 22 news bulletin on the city's website notes that city administration was made aware of the use permit after residents saw a Little Caesars sign hanging from a building on Petaluma Avenue. Upon review, the city acknowledges that administrative approvals occurred in error during the processing and issuance of permits related to the Little Caesars project, the bulletin reads."

A Little Caesars sign appeared on Sebastopol's main street, prompting surprise from local business owners. Little Caesars is a major international chain, and the Sebastopol location is co-owned by Modesto-based brothers Gurdip Singh and Harcanb Khehara, who own nearby stores. The brothers planned a Halloween opening but faced pushback after the city discovered administrative approval had been granted in error. Interim City Manager Mary Gourley characterized the approval as a staff oversight. An Oct. 22 city bulletin said administration learned of the use permit after residents spotted the sign and acknowledged that administrative approvals occurred in error. The bulletin noted permits may not have complied with current zoning and that administrative approvals carry no conditions and are not reviewed by the Planning Commission or City Council. The city did not identify who made the errors and stated it is unable to revoke the permit.

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