# Minneapolis restaurant that offered free meals to protest ICE raids announces closure

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-10-22 13:40 UTC · Category: Business

## Executive Summary
Modern Times Cafe in Minneapolis announces its permanent closure after offering free meals to protest ICE raids.

## Intelligence Brief
According to coverage from multiple news outlets including 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS, The Times of India, Bring Me The News, FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul, Star Tribune, CBS News, and the New York Post, a prominent establishment in Minnesota has announced it will shut its doors permanently. The business at the center of the reports is Modern Times Cafe, located in Minneapolis, which previously experimented with a unique pricing model where it had no prices and gave away free meals. Coverage indicates that this unusual approach was adopted during Operation Metro Surge, functioning as a form of protest against ICE raids occurring in the area. Reporting from CBS News highlights that the cafe provided tens of thousands of free meals in the wake of the immigration enforcement surge before finalizing its decision to close.


Outlets such as the Star Tribune and Bring Me The News emphasize the operational model the cafe utilized during this period, while FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul frames the business's actions within the broader context of Twin Cities establishments assisting the local community. The impending shutdown has drawn international attention, as evidenced by coverage from The Times of India, alongside regional reporting detailing the end of the cafe's tenure in Minneapolis. Background information provided in the reports connects the restaurant's closure directly to the events surrounding Operation Metro Surge and its subsequent decision to operate without traditional menu prices. The coverage does not yet specify the exact operational challenges or financial pressures that led directly to the closure decision beyond the timeline of the cafe's free-meal initiative.


Readers following the story are presented with details regarding the cafe's community involvement during a high-profile period of immigration enforcement activity in the Twin Cities region. As the story develops, observers and patrons will be watching for any further statements from the management of Modern Times Cafe regarding the final timeline of operations. Current reports indicate that the closure is scheduled for the end of the year, but coverage does not yet specify exact dates for the final day of service or any plans for the physical space. Additional details regarding the legacy of the cafe's protest model and community support efforts will depend on subsequent updates from the outlets currently tracking the situation.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS | Modern Times Cafe gave away free meals during Operation Metro Surge — now it's shutting down | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMixAFBVV95cUxQMV9ESTRBOEdieFd4dTBrZElGbUE5QWlSYzYzbEU4RkxmRVhkSTItV3hvQjRGR2IyOGdkeXdic25obUpUdFl4eDlDSVJfTDhROEtJckhWWHRCZmcyblE1TE1sNXJlSmROVVRmRGRjdmpoY002Rnc4TWVfVWRTYXBkVDdDRm5veWhEUE1oVFZwS3RKWEdGeDRCS0lVMTVoTlBQbzJUb3FUQU9XRkRuVmNOSWhwVDZadzN1VnExOXluQzB1elBN?oc=5) |
| The Times of India | US restaurant that offered free meals in protest against ICE to shut down permanently | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi7AFBVV95cUxQMlpsV196T3pJWnU2WEZ4Y0x4cjFPWVFpRVZqN3FCVWZnaFZFS1hiaGN6TEJTbWpZSWxRSXoxc19MSTY5SjNUWWZhblo4LTNVbEFscjZOaUxzc1hMZ25BSE9felR2aFhuaFIzOXpCSlZaRjB4TVNfRFc5V1MwS2ZYWjdJQ0k5NHZLTDhFSmZ2OG1TOS1IQnhRSmdEM1ZFWTc2eWNMNnFyY3R2X1ZXTm5YM2wzQXNqSTI2Yl9YRHlpTkFSOGtfTzlJMXkxeFBwNEpkTm02N293QzA1STFzNnY2OEVQZlF5dzdmclJzWQ?oc=5) |
| Bring Me The News | Modern Times Cafe, which experimented with ‘free’ model during Metro Surge, will close | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiyAFBVV95cUxQWFpTd1A1cHFsUk1Rd1JQSVA5cEJNdlVjbXJVWTg1dW9SWUxScnZRaEhIcjdCSF9lOTdSSHRuMkQ0eFhmb2ZiZ1RuYUtCQm1MSVFhQmtURi1BUmdELWFSSmdwanU4NG1RbUNyTXBaMjNTbGxYUm1MUi0zSUFUSTJFcjZOTHBISTQ3UEVuN002ckUxXzNOdU5EX21ZRnJoN1d0enlqVWdTYmRVWGpmeEdDb1V0a2ZLZC1OdUtTX3lzVThoNXhlMTdWMg?oc=5) |
| FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul | Twin Cities businesses helping the community | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiogFBVV95cUxPb2JYcXJOZE55NjFLcGRmU2tmV2NPZllJX3lRY0JJbVRncEo4LUZOODVoSVNEdDUxdVZ1U1ZxcXZPa0FVRDRkc1pxdHE4OHRxWThGUURVSkg3LVJZU0RjekFlbTRpUTkwR0M1SWFnQ3JNY2s4TXlWZEIwaUhvRjRKbWVxNk1wRHRENTdMXzdWeEZQT2tVODFUMGRSNk1pZDMyU0HSAacBQVVfeXFMTk5XZVNrRGV3b2FTVm9tLTJTY0x3WVhYM1c2Y2lIUzdDa2Y2NEJFMmxjc25KTlBCeTlQbHkzWTFKVFN3NnNEbEdBTUZJTlVpcEtlMzdua0hJZTNDajNQT3VxYmhFb1hWLW5wUGdLb0xkend4eTZURFlkZGdxbnlrc2ZWdU1iUmotS3lOR1h1akhFX0RYV1owcXJCTXpMd24zb0t0WGEyTGs?oc=5) |
| Star Tribune | Modern Times, the restaurant that had no prices, plans to close | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMioAFBVV95cUxObUJ3VXFSMXg5VUpfY2p3YlVjMDlDUVlzUGpOUDVOMFBNc3E1eXp5Z1JIUjVsQ2ZEWkgzQmlNMi0ydU02a0NLOVZWa0lqZVd6dEZweHBub1FUQlI5ZGVObHVDQ3VCRE42bkFSY2VvZ1RMTU1DakgxZ1VrSWl6Rkx6UnE0SlN6MFppNTJPMEVkMC1DUk5Kd19JdzRtMWxpYnZj?oc=5) |
| CBS News | Modern Times Cafe closing at end of year after providing 30,000 free meals in wake of ICE surge | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigwFBVV95cUxQYU0xOHI2SHRzeWpCeFdUenhMSnZudThHaVI2SkxuMXdMZFlack1wMUFya3lKYVFSTG02LXVYNTBJLVBjT1JYSm54LVhQUGZYbE00bnJSME5XRVdqcHVwSjZwWmp1TmNaTlN0SnJ2YWp6NUNwVWIxbE44bE1JTlZ6SFdRVQ?oc=5) |
| New York Post | Minneapolis restaurant that offered free meals to protest ICE raids announces closure | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwwFBVV95cUxOYnBGU2hTX1NXN1lRaHJ2NnpQdUxJV2tUaUhiVEVQV0Y2ejdlVjV0MElpMEZqU3ZUb1Nxc0U0LUZISFg3NjhoemtsZXVxRUh6VHliR2RWallrdmQ2WUpDQmtPVU1HTWVwdWE0M21hUGw4cEpEUTBpWi1hSHY2cWVJNDhTeldlVXFTb3BwZHpoTWxPdDFpQnJOTzEyWkNiZDI5a1F6T2hENnBEd3gtWno3Mjhtd0VRSFNCcUVvZnNtV1IzekU?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-10-22/minneapolis-restaurant-that-offered-free-meals-to-protest-ice-raids-announces*