As I'm sure many if not all of the residents of Encinitas know, Cap'n (Captain) Keno's Restaurant is located on the Highway 101 in our city. It is a great place to go for food, drinks, or to just hang out with friends and family. Keno's has been around for over 50 years and is considered to be Encinitas' oldest surviving restaurant to this day. As such a staple in the community, it would be a shame to see it go. Keeping the restaurants and buildings as they are, savoring their uniqueness and history, should be and is the majority of residents’ stance on the matter. 

      Recently it has come to the attention of the broad population in Encinitas that there are plans in place to rid the city of this iconic building and replace it with a more modernized approach. Adam Robinson of the RAF Pacifica Group has plans to tear down Cap’n Keno’s as well as the Portofino Beach Inn and replace the buildings with a new design as they had purchased these buildings as a part of the Moonlight Mixed-Use project. Now, I would be all for a remodel as they can often be refreshing and bring new life to a location. As for demolishing these two places that the locals know so well and rebuilding them from the ground up? That I have a problem with. For these plans that Robinson has, there would be underground parking, office spaces, and “micro-units,” as well as the locations that stand there now. 

      While this may sound great for many other places, it does not fit the mold that has been created in Leucadia. The phrase “Keep Leucadia Funky” has been around for quite some time now. What keeps it funky is not the gentrification of our city with demolishing the older, more outdated buildings. Rather it is the eclectic mixed mash of buildings that help give the city it’s character. I, along with many other locals, would be saddened to see Keno’s go. Now I am not a regular at Keno's though I have been my fair share. However, so many people love the place, if not for the food then for what it represents as a landmark in our community. The implications of what lies ahead for Leucadia with these plans that Robinson has is not a path that many locals would agree with going down. I am hoping that with this petition, we can show the City of Encinitas and Robinson our comments and concerns with what they are planning to do with our beloved 101. Robinson said that he wants feedback, so let's give him some feedback. Thank you for reading and hopefully signing, remember to Keep Leucadia Funky.