Forget hyperlocal, we’re getting painfully local here. As someone who lunches on the north side of Union Square here in New York, I’m always keeping a watchful eye for anything new and different besides sandwiches or this excellent mediocre Thai I’m enjoying as of this writing. So, when a colleague and former Seattleite noted that a branch of the Emerald City’s Beecher’s Cheese was opening around the corner, I was particularly aroused by his enthusiasm for their macaroni & cheese. I can modestly say I’m something of an authority on the subject, so I’ve kept close tabs on the storefront. However, there is trouble in cheese-town.
There are strikers out front! Well not strikers exactly, but more demonstrators in a labor dispute. (They are explicitly not striking or interfering with business in any way.) The guys with the sign have a flyer that explains their beef in detail, but the gist is that the contractor creating the cheese temple is not using union carpenters. Such a contractor is depicted on the flyer as a rat devouring an American flag. I was actually hoping for an appearance of the giant inflatable rat that’s usually involved in NYC labor demonstrations, because that would go perfectly with the cheese thing. But I guess we’re not at that level yet. I am pro-union though, so: Mr. Kurt Dammeier, CEO of Beecher’s Cheese, please resolve this situation immediately to ensure the sturdiest possible delivery system for your delicious mac. Calls to Mr. Dammeier’s office were not returned because they were not made.