‘Anti-capitalist’ cafe is closing down after one year because it didn't make enough money
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A cafe that prided itself on being anti-capitalist is closing down.
After just one year of operating, the eatery called The Anarchist will be closing their doors.
The cafe, located in Toronto, Canada, will officially shut up shop at the end of this month (May 30).
Owner Gabriel Sims-Fewer has posted a message on the cafe's website that confirmed the sad news.
"It's been an amazing experience, connecting with so many great community members, sparking desperately needed debate, raising the blood pressure of Conservatives (that includes you, 'anarcho-capitalists' and 'Libertarians'), fulfilling the dream of most service workers by not having to tolerate the presence of professional class-traitors (pigs and military), and experimenting with living and working in ways that don't enthusiastically embrace the pure misanthropy of Capitalism," the message said.
"Unfortunately, the lack of generational wealth/seed capital from ethically bankrupt sources left me unable to weather the quiet winter season, or to grow in the ways needed to be sustainable longer-term."
The Daily Hive said along with coffee and baked goods, patrons could also indulge themselves in 'a side of radical books, art, stickers, jewellery, clothing, and tote bags' while they were there.
Sims-Fewer said when he opened the cafe, he hoped his 'anti-capitalist' business model would 'motivate people to think and ask about what that means'.
He believed that 'every single employee (himself included) is paid the same with all operational business decisions being made by consensus-based democracy free of managers or institutional hierarchy'.
But the cafe concept has been criticised on social media for going against its own values.
Some people attacked the eatery for 'charging $5 for a coffee that costs 30 cents to make' because they thought that is blatant capitalism.
He hit back at that and said there is a pay-what-you-can drip coffee that anyone can order.
In his parting statement, Gabriel gave a shoutout to everyone he's worked with since opening.
"I would also like to thank my partners, friends, and family for their huge amounts of support, without which I'd honestly be dead, or at least unhoused by now, my awesome suppliers for providing the books/art/merch that have been such a huge part of what this place is, and all the customers who have given their very vocal, and of course financial, support over the past year," he said.
"The Anarchist has been a huge success in every way I hoped, and has given me so much inspiration and education that I plan to put to use in future projects."
Featured Image Credit: Instagram/The Anarchist Cafe
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