“It’s unfortunate, but I understand it,” said Eric Soto, owner of Encinitas Café.
Soto is one of dozens of restaurant owners along Highway 101 who’ve been able to set up extra outdoor tables, after the city set up temporary barriers adding additional space on public parking spaces in July.
“It was vital, especially when we had just outdoor dining to us, coming close to just breaking even, so it really helped us a lot through these tough times,” said Soto.
But since the most recent state shutdown order, some restaurants have defiantly stayed open using those public spaces.
“The city’s right of way is something that we had opened to them because we want, we care about our businesses, and we have compassion for what they’re going through, and we want them to be successful,” said Blakespear.