Wake up, go bankrupt! Toronto’s ‘anti-capitalist’ and anti-colonial ‘pay what you can’ bettors cafe must close after a year after not making enough money
- The Anarchist in Toronto, Canada shudders after a year in operation
- The cafe had a ‘pay what you can’ model and was ‘anti-capitalist’
- The store owner cited “lack of generational wealth/capital seed” as the reason
An anti-capitalist café in Toronto, where customers would pay what they can, has closed after a year because it was not making enough money.
Owners of The Anarchist, which opened in March 2022 and described as an “anti-capitalist, anti-colonial cafe, shop and radical community space on stolen land,” said the coffee shop will close its doors on May 30.
“Unfortunately, the lack of generation wealth/start-up capital from ethically bankrupt sources meant I was unable to weather the quiet winter season, or grow in the way necessary to be sustainable in the long run,” owner Gabriel wrote. Sims-Fewer.
Sims-Fewer ended his announcement to patrons by writing, “F*** the rich. F*** the police. F*** the state. F*** the colonial extermination camp we call ‘Canada’.
An anti-capitalist cafe in Toronto where customers would pay what they can has closed after a year because it wasn’t making enough money
An anti-capitalist cafe in Toronto where customers would pay what they can has closed after a year because it wasn’t making enough money
In his message, the shopkeeper says that his cafe has been successful in every way and that it has given him “so much inspiration and education”.
Sims-Fewer also wrote that he plans to use that new knowledge in future projects.
“It has been an amazing experience connecting with so many wonderful members of the community, sparking much-needed debate and raising the blood pressure of conservatives (including you, “anarcho-capitalists” and “libertarians”),” he wrote .
“Fulfilling the dream of most servicemen 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 sheer misanthropy of capitalism,” Sims-Fewer continued.
The store had honed on a “pay what you can model” that had been criticized by some during its years of pursuit.
According to her, more expensive drinks helped subsidize the store website.
Critics of the scheme complained that it was wrong to charge more for cheap drinks just to cover costs where others did not contribute.
In September, the owner of the café also came under fire and was called an ‘ass’ on Instagram after he posted about the death of Queen Elizabeth.
Still closed, but post as soon as I get back to work. At least a royal parasite has died,” The Anarchist’s Instagram page posted on Sept. 8.
They also posted less than a week after Her Majesty’s death, “The Queen was stu*t, and should have died sooner.”
In his post, shop owner Gabriel Sims-Fewer said his cafe had been successful in every way and that it had given him “so much inspiration and education.”
The store had honed on a “pay what you can model” that had been criticized by some over its years of pursuit
Some posters for sale at the anti-capitalist cafe in Toronto
In September, the owner of the cafe also came under fire and was called an ‘ass’ on Instagram after he posted about the death of Queen Elizabeth
They also posted less than a week after Her Majesty’s passing: ‘The Queen was stu*t, and should have died sooner’
In addition to the statement on their website, the cafe’s Instagram page also shared the news on May 10.
The post received dozens of reactions from supporters and opponents. “Cleared state,” replied one Instagram user.
‘Terrible news! I will miss you very much!’ another noted. “Are we going to set the place on fire or not a farewell fire?” one person wrote.
“I’m so sorry, fuck capitalism,” another added.