$30 Sandwiches
We have a new sandwich shop (shoutout Birdie’s) in town that everyone is raving about, though I still need to go and try it. Anyhow, I was checking it out online and had eyes for the pastrami on rye, but felt some sticker shock when I saw the $18 price tag. After all, this is Columbia, Missouri, and I figured that’s what they were probably charging at Katz’s in New York City.
So I looked up what they are charging at Katz’s in New York City…
$30?!
I think it was around $9 when I was in high school in the 1990s, which was expensive then but worth it. But $9 to $30 over that period of time (gosh I’m old) is a less than 5% annual increase.
So maybe two things are true.
First, that a $30 delicious pastrami sandwich is not outrageous. Second, that an $18 delicious pastrami sandwich is a relative bargain (Midwest arbitrage is not BS).
Now, you probably wouldn’t believe me if I told you that we also have a $30 sandwich here in Columbia, Missouri, but we do. It’s the soft shell crab-wich that the good people at Beet Box (who also handle the fabulous catering at Main Street Summit…coming in September…hit me up for a friends & family discount code) offer from time to time as a special.
But boy is that worth it for all of the reasons you might think – and I’m not just saying that because it fuels the most productive business lunches. Also, there is no correlation between when Beet Box offers the soft shell crab-wich and when I happen to need to schedule a business lunch.
Though they really should bring back full deductibility of meals.
– Tim
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