Key facts
- Post Modern Times restaurant in Minneapolis removed prices from its menu.
- The pay-what-you-can model was implemented in response to economic pressures and community needs.
- The restaurant now serves approximately 155 meals daily, with about 90% of customers not making a donation.
- Supporters donated around $500,000 to the restaurant.
- The restaurant is now in a better financial position, paying employees $25/hour and the owner $50,000 annually.
Dylan Alverson, owner of the Post Modern Times restaurant in Minneapolis, has removed prices from the menu, shifting to a pay-what-you-can model. Alverson, who has a long history in the restaurant industry, aimed to create a community-focused establishment. However, rising costs due to the pandemic, inflation, and labor expenses made it difficult to maintain profitability, even with annual sales reaching $1.3 million.
Following federal immigration raids in the neighborhood and the death of a neighbor, Alverson decided to remove menu prices as a form of tax strike and to provide comfort to the community. The restaurant now offers meals on a pay-what-you-can basis, or for free if customers cannot afford to pay. This change has been met with significant support, with donors contributing about $500,000 over the winter.
Currently, the restaurant serves approximately 155 meals daily, with about 90% of these meals not accompanied by a donation. Alverson stated that the restaurant is no longer focused on maximizing profits but on building a sustainable business that pays staff a living wage and ensures access to food for anyone in the neighborhood. The restaurant is now in a better financial position, with Alverson paying himself $50,000 annually and employees earning $25 per hour, with a goal of reaching $30 per hour.