New pay as you can restaurant opens in Downtown Littleton (bill, title)

[Timmyy]

Originally Posted by himain

That's the stupidest idea ever. Do you know how many people are going to go in there and eat for free claiming no money?? Good luck

That is my biggest worry. Especially kids in their late teenage years or early twenties. They will just think it is funny.

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by himain

That's the stupidest idea ever. Do you know how many people are going to go in there and eat for free claiming no money?? Good luck

But it is working in multiple other locations.

[pikabike]

Originally Posted by SkyDog77

But it is working in multiple other locations.

Why so many guilty consciences? Sure, some people pay for others in genuine altruism but I wonder what drives most of the donors.

[MN_Ski]

Panera did this awhile back. I had a friend who was a manager at a location in Detroit, and said that some of the patrons were down right rude and entitled. Parents would come in with Iphones, desginer hand bags, new shoes, etc...bringing like 4-5 kids, who were usually dirty and wearing ripped up clothes/shoes, and come in so arrogantly demanding everything for free.

What usually happened was that other patrons would end up donating $5-20 on top of their bill for the cause. She said it was important to not focus on the fact that the parents obviously were selfish with their spending, and to focus on how at least the children were getting a good meal.

[sammy87]

Originally Posted by MN_Ski

Panera did this awhile back. I had a friend who was a manager at a location in Detroit, and said that some of the patrons were down right rude and entitled. Parents would come in with Iphones, desginer hand bags, new shoes, etc...bringing like 4-5 kids, who were usually dirty and wearing ripped up clothes/shoes, and come in so arrogantly demanding everything for free.

What usually happened was that other patrons would end up donating $5-20 on top of their bill for the cause. She said it was important to not focus on the fact that the parents obviously were selfish with their spending, and to focus on how at least the children were getting a good meal.

Thats a fine idea and all but they need to make money to pay overhead. If not the place will close and people will lose their job. If its succeeding somewhere else I suspect theres a tax credit behind it and basically the tax payers are subsidizing feeding people who dont want to pay for their own food. But its a free country and if you want to give your product away for free its on you.

[Ohky0815]

Theres a pay as you can pizza joint here in town. Its pretty good for itself and surprisingly not many bums or anything that jumps out!

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by sammy87

Thats a fine idea and all but they need to make money to pay overhead. If not the place will close and people will lose their job. If its succeeding somewhere else I suspect theres a tax credit behind it and basically the tax payers are subsidizing feeding people who dont want to pay for their own food. But its a free country and if you want to give your product away for free its on you.

Instead of (incorrectly) suspecting, why not read about the restaurant in the link I posted? You might learn something.

About | SAME Cafe

Financials: http://www.soallmayeat.org/wp-conten...ual-Report.doc

[mic111]

They tried this in Denver on Tennyson st. But it closed down. Not sure why. However it was never busy. Usually just a few other groups. Rarely even half full.

The food was delicious, homemade and all gluten free which is why I went there. Plenty of choice. But it was uncomfortable eating there. Even though we paid full freight and then some. It was also hard to take friends there because they wondered why you were eating at a voluntary pay place, like you couldn't afford a proper restaurant. Also the staff was volunteers and they were super sweet but sort of over accommodating in a treating you like you were at a soup kitchen sort of way. Plus since they were volunteers and the pay was optional you really felt bad asking for something. If it were still there I would still go if I were in the area because the quality was great and the whole restaurant was gluten free but while it was still open I did find myself avoiding it because of the vibe you got that you were a charity case.

Got great reviews.
The Comfort Cafe - CLOSED - 16 Photos & 13 Reviews - American (Traditional) - Northwest - Denver, CO - Phone Number - Yelp

[pikabike]

Originally Posted by mic111

They tried this in Denver on Tennyson st. But it closed down. Not sure why. However it was never busy. Usually just a few other groups. Rarely even half full.

The food was delicious, homemade and all gluten free which is why I went there. Plenty of choice. But it was uncomfortable eating there. Even though we paid full freight and then some. It was also hard to take friends there because they wondered why you were eating at a voluntary pay place, like you couldn't afford a proper restaurant. Also the staff was volunteers and they were super sweet but sort of over accommodating in a treating you like you were at a soup kitchen sort of way. Plus since they were volunteers and the pay was optional you really felt bad asking for something. If it were still there I would still go if I were in the area because the quality was great and the whole restaurant was gluten free but while it was still open I did find myself avoiding it because of the vibe you got that you were a charity case.

Got great reviews.
The Comfort Cafe - CLOSED - 16 Photos & 13 Reviews - American (Traditional) - Northwest - Denver, CO - Phone Number - Yelp

I remember reading about that place when it opened. Never went there and didn't want to.

It would be better if restaurants stuck to restauranting--serving good food appropriately priced--without turning the act of eating out into a political statement. We don't eat at restaurants we cannot afford, nor do we expect anybody else to subsidize us.

Sometimes there are reports of a person paying for someone in back of them at a McDonald's drive-up line, and that's up to the individual, of course. It is not the same as going to where there is a Donations can "hinting" that people should give money just because they have some extra. Extra is supposed to be SAVED so that the person doesn't get into a situation like needing someone else to pay for him or her.

I can see a situation where a place becomes so well known for procuring free meals that people deliberately go there never intending to pay. Maybe that place then can't make ends meet, so it closes.

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by pikabike

I remember reading about that place when it opened. Never went there and didn't want to.

It would be better if restaurants stuck to restauranting--serving good food appropriately priced--without turning the act of eating out into a political statement. We don't eat at restaurants we cannot afford, nor do we expect anybody else to subsidize us.

Sometimes there are reports of a person paying for someone in back of them at a McDonald's drive-up line, and that's up to the individual, of course. It is not the same as going to where there is a Donations can "hinting" that people should give money just because they have some extra. Extra is supposed to be SAVED so that the person doesn't get into a situation like needing someone else to pay for him or her.

I can see a situation where a place becomes so well known for procuring free meals that people deliberately go there never intending to pay. Maybe that place then can't make ends meet, so it closes.

Who are you to tell people what cause they should or should not donate to? If people want to do this they should be free to do so. The market will determine if they are able to raise enough capital to stay open. SOME Cafe has made it for a decade so far.