--- title: "Modern Times Cafe to close after offering free meals" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/modern-times-cafe-to-close-after-offering-free-meals" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/modern-times-cafe-to-close-after-offering-free-meals" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/modern-times-cafe-to-close-after-offering-free-meals.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/modern-times-cafe-to-close-after-offering-free-meals" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-10-22T09:25:11.489Z" source_reported: "2026-10-18T19:14:31.000Z" updated: "2026-10-22T09:25:11.489Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 60 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-22T10:00:27.354167+00:00" --- # Modern Times Cafe to close after offering free meals *Minneapolis cafe will shut its doors at year's end after a period of offering free meals.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. The central claim is attributed to the owner, but no other sources are named or cited. - Craft 60 of 100, higher is better. The report includes a quote from the owner and explains the cafe's history and financial situation. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. The headline uses strong language like 'closing at end of year' which is not yet confirmed. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Modern Times Cafe will close at the end of the year. - The cafe rebranded as Post Modern Times in January and began serving free meals after a Border Patrol agent shot and killed Alex Pretti. - The cafe served over 30,000 free meals with the help of more than 2,000 donations. - Modern Times has accumulated nearly $70,000 in debt since reopening. Modern Times Cafe, a south Minneapolis establishment, is set to close its doors by the end of the year. The owner, Dylan Alverson, described the decision as "incredibly difficult" and expressed a desire to celebrate the cafe's nearly 16 years of operation, which he stated prioritised "creativity over cost, kindness over profit, and uncompromising values." The cafe rebranded as Post Modern Times in January and started offering free meals in the wake of a Border Patrol agent shooting and killing Alex Pretti. After operating without prices for six months, the restaurant temporarily closed in July before resuming operations the following month with a new model that reintroduced prices while continuing to offer 25 free meals daily. During the period of free meals, Modern Times reported serving over 30,000 meals with assistance from more than 2,000 donations. Alverson stated that the cost of the cafe's temporary closure was substantial, leading to nearly $70,000 in debt since its reopening. Alverson cited the significant stress the business placed on him and his family, stating that he was prioritising his and his family's well-being for the first time. He encouraged patrons to visit in the remaining months to celebrate the cafe and share memories. Alverson indicated a desire to conclude operations on his own terms, continuing to serve customers and create positive experiences until the closing date, which has not yet been officially announced. ## Coverage comparison ## What the coverage left out No centre-rated reports mentioned the specific date in January when the cafe began serving free meals. The centre-rated report also did not specify the exact date of the shooting incident involving Alex Pretti. ## Who covered it Shares of the 11 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 9% (1) - Centre: 45% (5) - Right: 46% (5) 1 of 12 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-22T10:00:27.354167+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 7 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-22T11:00:19.244Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre - CBS News reported that Modern Times Cafe will close at the end of the year. The outlet highlighted the cafe's rebranding as Post Modern Times in January and its subsequent offering of free meals following the shooting death of Alex Pretti by a Border Patrol agent. CBS News noted that the cafe served over 30,000 free meals with the support of more than 2,000 donations and has accrued nearly $70,000 in debt since reopening. The report included quotes from owner Dylan Alverson about the difficulty of the decision and his desire to celebrate the cafe's legacy. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - low: 1 - mixed: 3 - high: 2 - unknown: 1 - veryHigh: 5 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [New York Post](https://nypost.com/2026/10/22/us-news/minneapolis-restaurant-modern-times-cafe-that-offered-free-meals-to-protest-ice-closes) — Minneapolis restaurant that offered free meals to protest ICE raids announces closure - [discernmoney.com](https://discernmoney.com/minneapolis-cafe-that-banned-ice-and-erased-prices-closes-after-reality-collects-the-tab) — Minneapolis Cafe That Banned ICE and Erased Prices Closes After Reality Collects the Tab - [nytimespost.com](https://nytimespost.com/minneapolis-restaurant-that-offered-free-meals-to-protest-ice-raids-announces-closure) — Minneapolis restaurant that offered free meals to protest ICE raids announces closure - [democraticaccent.com](https://democraticaccent.com/minneapolis-restaurant-that-offered-free-meals-to-protest-ice-raids-announces-closure) — Minneapolis restaurant that offered free meals to protest ICE raids announces closure - [Fox News](https://foxnews.com/media/minneapolis-restaurant-offered-free-meals-protest-ice-raids-announces-closure) — Minneapolis restaurant that offered free meals to protest ICE raids announces closure - [dailymail.com](https://dailymail.com/news/article-16224307/Woke-Minneapolis-restaurant-no-prices-fed-people-free-closing-surprising-no-one.html) — Woke Minneapolis restaurant that fed people for free is closing down - [The Business Journals](https://bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2026/10/19/modern-times-restaurant-closing.html?ana=brss_3254) — South Minneapolis cafe that went price-free during Operation Metro Surge to close - [CBS News](https://cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/modern-times-cafe-closing-minneapolis) — Modern Times Cafe closing at end of year after providing 30,000 free meals in wake of ICE surge - [Star Tribune](https://startribune.com/modern-times-the-restaurant-that-had-no-prices-plans-to-close/601902328) — Modern Times, the restaurant that had no prices, plans to close - [Fox 9](https://fox9.com/news/modern-times-cafe-restaurant-offered-free-food-during-ice-surge-is-closing) — Modern Times Café, restaurant that offered free food during ICE surge, is closing - [KARE](https://kare11.com/article/news/local/modern-times-cafe-to-close/89-745b3cf3-426a-4b82-b02e-26feb4d934c0) — Modern Times Cafe to close after nearly 16 years - [Bring Me The News](https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-lifestyle/modern-times-cafe-which-experimented-with-free-model-during-metro-surge-will-close) — Minneapolis' Modern Times Cafe to close at the end of the year ## Questions **When will Modern Times Cafe close?** Modern Times Cafe plans to close its doors at the end of the year. The owner, Dylan Alverson, has not yet announced an official closing date but intends to continue operating until then. **Why is Modern Times Cafe closing?** The cafe is closing due to significant financial strain and the personal toll the business has taken on the owner and his family. It has accrued nearly $70,000 in debt since reopening. **What was the Post Modern Times initiative?** In January, the cafe rebranded as Post Modern Times and began serving free meals after a Border Patrol agent shot and killed Alex Pretti. This initiative provided over 30,000 free meals with the help of more than 2,000 donations. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/modern-times-cafe-to-close-after-offering-free-meals. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Modern Times Cafe to close after offering free meals", https://mediabias.news/politics/modern-times-cafe-to-close-after-offering-free-meals