A cafe in Minneapolis has eliminated set prices for its menu, drawing attention from both local diners and hospitality professionals. Post Modern Times, a coffee shop in the city’s Powderhorn neighborhood, stopped charging for food earlier this spring. Patrons now pay what they wish, or nothing at all.
Owner Michael Finn launched the policy as a protest against local food taxes. The decision quickly shifted into a broader experiment in restaurant economics. Since then, Post Modern Times has reported a steady increase in both foot traffic and overall income, according to Finn.
Staff say that while some guests leave without paying, most contribute at least the suggested amount. On a recent Tuesday morning, the cash jar at the front counter was full by 10 a.m. Regulars appeared unfazed by the change, and the menu—coffee, pastries, sandwiches—remains the same.
Industry observers in New York have taken note. Some point out the challenges of importing the model to a city where rent and labor costs are higher. Others see it as a test case for alternative business models in a period of rising menu prices and ongoing debate about tipping.
For now, Finn says there are no plans to reinstate fixed prices. The cafe’s experiment continues as summer crowds filter in, looking for a respite from the heat and, perhaps, a free lunch.