Modern Times Cafe Minneapolis Closure 2026 Set for Year End

Modern Times Cafe Minneapolis Closure 2026 was announced Saturday. The south Minneapolis restaurant will close at the end of the year. It drew national attention for offering free meals during Operation Metro Surge. Owner Dylan Alverson shared the news in a Facebook post. It is unclear when the restaurant will close.

Modern Times Cafe Minneapolis Closure 2026 Follows a Year of Change

Alverson took over the restaurant nearly 16 years ago. He said he spent the last six years proving it can operate without compromising its core values. He described Modern Times as a business that chose creativity over cost, kindness over profit and uncompromising values.

The closure follows a year of major changes. The restaurant shifted its model twice in 2026. Each change reflected the owner's wish to put community values ahead of profit.

Free Meals Minneapolis Restaurant Turned Donation Based

In a Jan. 26 Instagram post, Alverson announced a big shift. Modern Times would stop operating as a traditional for profit business during Operation Metro Surge. The restaurant rebranded as Post Modern Times. It began operating as a free, donation based restaurant.

The restaurant said it no longer wanted to make a profit while the immigration operation was underway. That choice put the Donation Based Restaurant Model in the spotlight. It also brought national attention to the south Minneapolis business.

Return to the Original Name in August

Months later, the restaurant changed its model again. In an Aug. 19 Facebook post, it said it would reopen under its original name after a temporary closure. Menu prices would return. The restaurant would stay a no tipping establishment. It would also introduce an evolving tab system.

25 Free Meals a Day

The restaurant also promised to provide 25 free meals a day. That pledge kept a community focus even as prices returned. It showed an effort to balance values with the need to run a business.

What Happens Next for Modern Times

The exact closing date has not been shared. KSTP's 5 Eyewitness News reached out to Modern Times for comment. Readers should watch for updates from the restaurant on its social media pages. The closure adds to the wider pressure on independent restaurants. Many small operators face tight margins and rising costs.

Readers can find more restaurant news on our site. To follow the restaurant, visit its official Facebook page.