This Restaurant Stopped Charging for Food. And Profits Are Up.
Post Modern Times, a Minneapolis café owned by Dylan Alverson, adopted a donation-based model after a tax protest tied to local unrest, seeing profits rise despite 40-50% of customers not paying. Alverson, who made the change permanent, argues the shift reflects a critique of the hospitality industry’s reliance on exploitation and prioritizes community care over economic survival.
Dylan Alverson, owner of Post Modern Times in Minneapolis, launched a donation-based restaurant model in January after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by ICE agents during Operation Metro Surge. The move initially aimed to protest sales taxes paid to a government he accused of harming citizens, but the café’s profits surged as 40-50% of customers chose not to pay. Alverson, who ran a conventional business for 15 years, now claims the model outperforms traditional operations, attributing success to ethical hospitality over economic exploitation. The café’s transformation aligns with broader critiques of the restaurant industry’s profit-driven approach, emphasizing community support over financial gain. Alverson shortened the menu to streamline operations but retained signature features like homemade bread and local ingredients. Regulars, such as video artist Antonio Malone and Sofia Padilla, cite the restaurant’s quality and social mission as key draws, with Padilla describing the neighborhood’s winter turmoil as a 'war zone.' Alverson’s vision extends beyond business, framing the model as a rejection of systemic neglect of marginalized communities. 'There’s an unspoken agreement in America that some people are worthless,' he stated, arguing the café’s success proves profitability isn’t tied to customer exploitation. The experiment has drawn media attention, including inquiries from journalists and filmmakers, positioning Post Modern Times as both a critique and potential solution to industry-wide issues. Despite operational challenges, demand remains high, with diners like Malone eating daily. Alverson’s decision to permanently abandon prices reflects his belief that hospitality should prioritize care over profit. The café’s evolution from a tax protest to a performance-art-inspired business highlights its dual role as a social experiment and a redefinition of success in dining.
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