The Subway at the intersection of Broadway and John looks open. The OPEN sign is lit up, the lights are on, the fans are running, and I could see bread in the oven through the window. Business hours are 7am-11pm, it says on the door.

But the door wouldn't budge! The place was empty. And no one picks up the phone when I call.

"Strike Poverty" stencils painted on the ground gave a clue as to why. As Goldy has reported, fast food workers at chains throughout Seattle—from Georgetown to Lake City—are walking out today to protest low pay and working conditions.

Down the street, I found Daniel Njeha, who identified himself as the regional manager of Seattle-area Qdoba restaurants, taking down mock "poverty wages" crime-scene tape that had been stretched across trees in front of Qdoba.

Njeha didn't seem too bothered by the actions. He said only one worker was missing from the branch today. But on my way back to The Stranger office, I ran into a group holding banners and signs. Among them were Carla Gamez, who said she's been a manager at the branch for three years. She says Njeha, via text messages to her phone this morning, is "pretty upset" and has threatened "consequences."

"For managers it's hard to lose your job," Gamez says. "But I'm more concerned for them, who are just the employees" - she points to Larita McFaull, a cook and cleaner from the same restaurant, who also walked out - "they're really easy [to fire]... I told them last night, to make sure you really want this, because you could lose your job today."

Still, she says, "It's so much work, with so few people and for so little pay."

Goddammit I miss my camera!

UPDATE (Goldy): Ansel calls in to report that the Subway is now open, but with only one employee showing up for the shift. Qdoba's spokeswoman could not be reached.