I don't think this is specifically a West Coast thing. My supermarket has dozens or perhaps hundreds of cheeses, and so do large supermarkets all over the US. S

I don't think this is specifically a West Coast thing. My supermarket has dozens or perhaps hundreds of cheeses, and so do large supermarkets all over the US. Surely that's because someone's buying the niche varieties, and going to a party and saying "oh you're still buying brie? you have to try reblochon."