new panera bread in clayton, mo. pay what you want...

Cool link - thanks for sharing!

Interesting...

I would not eat at Panera even for free unless I was desperate.

It's an interesting business model though, and I think it could work if they got a lot of traffic. I'm eager to see what happens.

I'd be more interested in seeing Panera placed in a less "upscale suburb" to see the results.

I'd be more interested in seeing Panera placed in a less "upscale suburb" to see the results.

I agree with Kyle. Try opening that same store with the same policy in East St Louis. They are in a very wealthy section of St Louis.

I'd be more interested in seeing Panera placed in a less "upscale suburb" to see the results.

I agree with Kyle. Try opening that same store with the same policy in East St Louis. They are in a very wealthy section of St Louis.

They are trying to raise money for the nonprofit operating the Panera, not trying to provide cheap food for the poor. The Panera is a fundraiser, not a social service. At least that's the way I read it.

Great idea in theory........terrible idea in the name of keeping the doors open, unless someone wants to bankroll this thing.......

Apparently it's been tried and worked. Radical concept. It's based on two things - most people will do the right thing and people live up or down to the group's expectation. It's important that this is a nonprofit, not a corporate store.
This reminds me of a story in a Robert Fulghum book about a guy that tested NYC taxi drivers at the airport, acting like a clueless tourist and seeing if they would rip him off as everyone says they will do. One did "take him for a ride," but 36 others took him straight to his destination for a fair price.
I think the comments about wealthy vs. poor are too pessimistic. Material wealth doesn't necessarily equal generosity and integrity; the reverse is also not necessarily true.
Oops, I got carried away again....

I think the comments about wealthy vs. poor are too pessimistic.

I do not.

A Panera in an affluent suburb is going to sustain itself and raise more money than its counterpart.To me, it's a matter of economics and not personal integrity.