I'm writing this at Panera, because it's been on my mind since I read about its new venture in the St. Louis area. 
They've opened a "pay what you want" restaurant.
Seriously.
You can go in there and order $15 worth of bread, soup, sandwiches and a latte, and if all you want to pay is $1, then that's all you pay. If you want to pay $100, that's fine too. All the money goes into donation jars rather than a cash register (though there are "cashiers" there ready to take credit-card donations.) Yes, donations--after the overhead is taken care of, all proceeds go to a nonprofit foundation.
Panera executives say that they're testing the concept in St. Louis. If it works well, they hope to expand the program to many other communities nationwide. Truth be told, the bread they're selling in the "pay what you want" restaurant is day-old, but properly-stored bread will still be good to eat the next day.
Will it work? I'll be interested in following the story. The cynic in me says that many people will take advantage of what they'll consider a "free lunch." On the other hand, I know that the bagel, cream cheese and latte I ate for lunch today cost $6.29. I'd be inclined to give at least that much, knowing that the profits were going to a good cause. Panera is banking on human nature here. I wonder what the returns will be! (And will there be wi-fi?)
COUPON TIME
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