When John dropped me off to meet with a client in south Minneapolis last week he looked for a new restaurant to try after he picked me up. He picked All Square in the Longfellow neighborhood because its rating was so high… an aggregate score of 4.9 out of 5, with 368 reviews!
With big signs boldly facing the street, there is no question that this restaurant is about social activism. What may not be so obvious is how brilliant to only focus on grilled cheese, and make about 10 creative variations! Food was delicious, and felt light and non-greasy.
They explain their purpose clearly on the mirror by the serving counter… a brand that embodies social sustainability, racial justice, and economic inclusion.
As Ashlea Halpern described it in Time’s list of the World’s Greatest Places 2019,
“All Square makes a mean grilled cheese, but its ambitions are much greater. Opened in September 2018 by civil rights lawyer Emily Hunt Turner, the sandwich shop offers its formerly incarcerated employees a professional-development fellowship in addition to a living wage. Fellows work at least 30 hours a week at the shop, training in everything from wellness to social media. They devote 10 to 15 more hours to learning critical skills like resume writing and personal finance. The program, designed to develop real-world experience and sterling references, recently graduated 11 fellows in its first class. Turner hopes to replicate the business model and reduce recidivism in cities across the country.”
Don’t miss this outstanding opportunity for fabulous grilled cheese with social activism at its core.
Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results – shensrud@homesmsp.com
