Captain Kenos History

Captain Kenos, owned by the well known Jerry Sova, has been an Encinitas relic since it opened in 1970. 

"It was basically nothing when I opened it. I only did $16 my first day. I knew I had problems right from the beginning." said Sova.

Jerry has been in many different businesses before Captian Kenos. In fact, he owns 14 businesses! But he spends a lot of time at this specific location.

"I believe in efficiency. Most places don't have the efficiency I have. I work 15 hours 7 days a week. " said Sova.

One thing many people love about Captain Kenos are the amazing prices. Even cheaper than most fast food resturants, you can't find the same prices anywhere else.

"Lets face it, the prices are a good deal, people can afford it. " said Sova.

Along with giving good food at a cheap price, Jerry is also a community man, espically at the LCC campus!

"I do the Senior party (at LCC) every year. I've been doing it for twenty years. I do the wrestling also. Feed 550 people a big pancake breakfast. I do the schools, I do the fire department, I like to help out." said Sova.

Here is the problem with Captain Kenos: the future of the establishment it as risk of being torn down, replaces by a strip mall all the way down to Melrose on the 101. 

"They are tearing Captain Kenos down.  I'm not supposed to take sides because I'm the seller. They are building a shopping center here. Including the motel. Everything to Melrose. 250 parking spaces underground. Thats one reason I decided to get out, I don't want to be downtown. I've always been off to the side basically. I've been in Encinitas 52 years" said Sova.

Although Sova doesn't have too much of an opinion on where the future of Captain Kenos goes, or rather isn't allowed to, many people in the community are enraged. There is a City Consul meeting this September to decide Captain Kenos fate.

"There is going to be a meeting in September they said. It should be this month. You have a chance to go down to the sitting and fight for it not to be town down. It is strictly if the people get off their butts and go to the meeting. They tell me I can't go because its in my contract. People have their chance to say what they think about the whole thing. We know people don't want it to be town down. That part we know. I've been told there are over 1,000 signatures. I never knew they cared about this building so much." said Sova.

"The people have to do it. I tell people that I don't know if ten people will show up to that meeting or 300-400. If 300-400 people show up, its obvious they have to listen to them." said Sova.

How to help? Keep an eye out for the City Consil date is sometime this month, and help support Captain Kenos by stopping by. 

"I don't really care which way it goes. People don't want to hurt me. if its not to be, its not to be. I don't need the money to be honest with you. I own 14 places. So if they don't sell this one, they'll sell another one." said Sova.