Minneapolis Restaurant Closes After Priceless Protest
Modern Times Café, which offered free meals to protest ICE, announces closure after six years of operation.
2 min read
Modern Times Café, the Minneapolis restaurant that eliminated prices for meals to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has announced it will close by the end of the year. Owner Dylan Alverson, who had operated the eatery as a ‘free and donation-based business’ for nearly two years, said the decision was made after exhausting all options without compromising the restaurant’s core values.
From Protest to Closure
Alverson, who had previously criticized the city’s immigration policies, launched a social media campaign in January condemning what he called an ‘occupation’ by ICE. The campaign followed the deaths of two protesters, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, during a crackdown by immigration officers. He vowed to stop generating profits for what he described as ‘fascists’ and instead operate as a donation-based establishment, welcoming everyone except ICE.
Despite the bold stance, the restaurant struggled financially. According to a financial report shared with the New York Times, the café generated $1.3 million in sales last year but still lost $18,500. Alverson, who paid himself just $23,000 a year, described the financial strain as ‘barely soluble’ since 2020. He also acknowledged the challenges of running a donation-based model, including long wait times for customers and concerns from neighbors about potential misuse of free meals.
A Year of Protest and Struggle
Over the past year, the restaurant served an estimated 30,000 meals and received over 2,000 donations. However, the model proved unsustainable. Alverson temporarily closed the café in July and reopened in August as a ‘not tipping establishment,’ offering 25 free meals daily. By October, he had shifted to a ‘zero profit margin’ approach, hoping to serve as a model for other restaurants.
Despite the efforts, the financial burden proved too great. Alverson said the decision to close was not made lightly, and he expressed hope that the restaurant’s legacy would endure. ‘This has been an incredibly difficult decision,’ he said, ‘but I believe it’s the right one for the long-term health of the business.’
As the restaurant prepares to close, its story serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by small businesses in the face of political and economic pressures. Alverson’s decision highlights the intersection of personal values, business sustainability, and the broader struggle for social justice in the United States.
Source: Breitbart
