Panera cafe says pay what you want

AP via MSNBC.com ^ | May 18, 2010 | Christopher Leonard

[jessduntno]

Are they advertising on Air America?

[mrmeyer]

Any bets on how soon this place has to close its doors?

[Crim]

Idiots....

[HIDEK6]

The national bakery and restaurant chain launched a new nonprofit store

Well, they've come up with a real good way to be non-profit.

[Joe 6-pack]

The Panera’s I’ve been too have been great little places. It’s a pity to see them put themselves out of business like this.

[jtal]

This is awesome ... get ready for a lesson in Econ 101 ... TANSTAAFL

[KoRn]

This won’t last long, and it will NOT end well. lol

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

The national bakery and restaurant chain launched a new nonprofit store here this week

I believe it will be nonprofit. It should also open the eyes of a few idealistic, socialist twenty-somethings who believe people will just willingly part with hard earned cash because it will benefit others.

[phredo53]

This has been tried before. It hasn’t worked yet. Kinda reminds me of when the Beatles thought they could make an impact with that free giveaway thing they done.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

I helped to open the Panera on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, NC. Even the Chapel Hill store wasn’t this divorced from reality.

[MarineBrat]

I wonder what they’d say if I told them I want a huge order for free, and that I was going to go donate the proceeds to the Christian Church down the street? I wish they’d open one of these near me. Of course, the stupid line would be a mile long.

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

It’s a pity to see them put themselves out of business like this.

Yep, looks like a couple more local stores are gonna go belly up.
Will these lefties NEVER learn?

[doodad]

Let me guess. Since it is “non profit” they got an ACORN grant and stimulus money to run at a deficit. Bama breadline in reality.

[CholeraJoe]

I actually gave a lecture to a high school Economics class this morning and used that phrase twice in my lecture.

[BelegStrongbow]

I agree. Churches don’t explicitly charge either and just accept what shows up in the collection box. Unless I missed something, rolls and coffee do not a belief system make and Panera is about to find out exactly how cheap their preferred market segment really is.

[manc]

I’d go there every day and feed my family and then give them one penny.

will these people never learn at all. Liberalism is surely a mental disease.
They need to look up the meaning of insanity

[AbeKrieger]

I wonder if this store is in a predominantly-minority-accessible neighborhood. If so, watch out.

Remember the Oprah coupon-KFC free chicken disaster? I am NOT stereotyping, folks. Stating reality.

[mommya]

This is in upscale Clayton.
I bet the folks who live there and have businesses near there will tire quickly of the element that this venture brings to the area.

I give it 6 months.

[throwback]

I think we should suggest this approach for the Federal Income Tax. Kick in only what we think it’s worth.