In Minneapolis, Minnesota, a café named Post Modern Times has gained attention for abandoning traditional pricing and allowing customers to pay what they can—or nothing at all. Owner Dylan Alverson, who ran the café under the name Modern Times for 15 years, made the change earlier this year after violent incidents during a federal anti-immigration operation. As a protest against paying sales tax, he declared the restaurant would operate entirely on a free and donation-based model.

Initially a political statement, the move evolved into a social and economic experiment. Alverson reports that 40 to 50 percent of customers now eat without paying, yet business performance has improved. The café maintains its quality with homemade bread and locally sourced ingredients, attracting both supporters of social solidarity and those in need. Some neighbors have expressed concern that free meals could attract crime, but the management emphasizes safety and community support.

The new model has expanded the café’s income sources through merchandise sales and donations, turning Post Modern Times into a symbol of community unity and alternative economic thinking.