Opinion: Remembering Modern Times Cafe

Modern Times Cafe will close soon after nearly 16 years. 

During its six-month-long pay-what-you-can rebranding as Post Modern Times, which became a proxy for broader debates about economics, homelessness and harm reduction, the closing announcement became a closing argument for opponents of the idea.

Yet for owner Dylan Alverson, the loss of his cafe is not political. 

“It’s always been about food to me,” Alverson said. “I just want to feed people.”

Alverson founded Modern Times as a tribute to old, scrappy punk cafes. Between the handwritten specials menus and a mix of Alverson’s and local artists’ work adorning every s...