Socialist diner bitten by reality

A few years ago, young entrepreneur Ryan Cappelletti had an idea to open a restaurant. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, he opened the vegan and vegetarian Bartertown Diner. But Ryan was no ordinary restaurateur. He and his 16 eventual employees were socialists, collectivists, with a streak of anarchist. What a combo. In other words, don't use capitalist terms like "entrepreneur," to describe him – although it fits. That term is strictly reserved for the bourgeoisie, not him or his employees, who consider themselves Marxist proletariat.

MiBiz.com wrote that, "They eschew business plans and detailed financial projections in favor of vision and values. Above all, they take the old 'benevolent dictator' management model and turn it on its head, creating democratic workplaces where everyone is the CEO of something."

What a wonderfully progressive concept. But hey – this is America, and if they can make a socialist paradise out of a diner, without public assistance, then I say, go for it. They'd be the first.

As if to prove just how progressive and "anti-bourgeois" they are, "The strikingly red south wall [of the diner] features murals depicting, among other images, Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara in an apron and a cheeky take on the traditional symbol of solidarity and resistance – a clenched fist holding two spears of asparagus." Communists have the best sense of humor – don't they?

Ah yes – the shining ignorance of the collectivist left. Despite reams of evidence to the contrary, they are still deluded enough to believe that Che was some storybook freedom fighter, when in fact he was nothing more than Castro's hired gun – a racist thug and murderer. Viva la Revolucion!

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However, it looked like the socialist model was working, as they were even acknowledged and nominated for a Veggie Award. "I just want people to remember this as the best meal they ever had, and they got it from hardworking, honest people," Cappelletti said.

Cappelletti admits that this concept will not work everywhere. "He acknowledges that he and his fellow workers – all members of the Industrial Workers of the World Union – blazed their own path in developing Bartertown's concept."

As he prepared to move on to his next venture, Cappelletti had an idea. Rather than sell the diner, he decided to simply give the diner to the employees. It seemed to be the perfect fit, particularly as they were all already "CEO of something." And that's what he did. The Bartertown Diner was in the capable hands of "hardworking, honest people." Oh really.

As they soon found out – despite the outward appearance of collectivism, the only reason the diner had any success was that Cappelletti was the boss. His "hard work" made it work.

After his departure, the new collectivist owners made all decisions, well, collectively. How well did that work. Have you ever heard the phrase "too many chiefs, not enough Indians"? In other words – not well.

Bartertown was recently forced to close "after customers complained that they could no longer tolerate the bizarre hours, high prices and long lines."

In a real stunner, "the restaurant's business model, which did not allow for bosses or managers, promised a 'living wage' to all employees and a strong union, did not allow the restaurant to make enough profit to stay in business."

Customers frequently complained on social media that they waited 40 minutes to get a sandwich and couldn't even count on the place being open when they arrived. With no real owner or managers to set policy, "employees set the shop's hours by group decision, the restaurant opened and closed at random times, leaving potential sandwich buyers totally confused." I guess they weren't so "hardworking" after all.

Regardless of what a great Marxist atmosphere they offered, the "revolutionaries" soon found out that "you can't make payroll and your bills with Facebook and Tumblr 'likes.'"

Funny – William Bradford figured this all out in the original Plymouth Colony about 400 years ago – that Marxist, socialist, collectivism has and never will work. Yet fools just keep trying – as if the result will be different.

Although I don't wish any legitimate business to fail, it is a teachable moment, not to mention a pleasure to witness the failure of the socialist idea again and again. Maybe these little Marxists learned something. One can hope.