We live in an era of ever-sprawling franchise and chain eateries. They continue to grow and expand. Regional favorites have become national contenders. But as they continue to crowd out the local byways and fill in the empty stalls in strip malls, they start to look less and less unique. Growing up, if you wanted a sandwich in Bellevue, you had Subway or Blimpie. Now, you can close your eyes on a certain stretch of Cornhusker Road and point and you’d have selected one of a dozen franchisees. But even Jimmy John’s is toasting their sandwiches nowadays, so it all begins to bleed into the same tone of mass produced beige bread. Even the chicken sandwich wars of the last few years have highlighted the echo chamber in which corporate fast casual finds itself.

So, like many of you, I am eager t

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