Customers who walk into the Saint Louis Bread Co. in Clayton, Mo., often stop, glance up at a sign and gape. Too many choices? Hardly. “We encourage those with the means to leave the requested amount or more if you’re able,” the sign reads. “And we encourage those with a real need to take a discount.” Huh? I’m about to buy lunch at a fairly upscale sandwich joint, and I can name my own price?
Two greeters are available to confirm my suspicions: at this establishment, you can pay what you want….
St. Louis Bread Co. uses the name Panera Bread nationally. Here is some more background: http://stlouismo.com/blogs/st_louis/archive/2010/05/18/St.-Louis-Bread-Company-Clayton-goes-Non_2D00_Profit.aspx
In our morning paper here, it was announced that a Christian woman is opening a non-profit restaurant at which you pay what you want or can. She is going to use all local produce and volunteer labor, possibly teaming up with law enforcement to provide a community service venue for those convicted of minor infractions. It’s going to be interesting to see how this develops! The comments after the article are overwhelmingly positive!