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Meat may not be on the menu at McFoster’s Natural Kind Café, but there's plenty of heart inside and out of this restaurant.
McFoster’s owner Tom Foster told Channel 6 News his operation was plagued with thousands of dollars in back taxes. It was to force the restaurant to close, but just three weeks later, through a surge of customer donations, the café will stay open.
Fresh off a hot grill, a chef slings sautéed vegetables onto a lunch plate complete with a veggie wrap, Tuesday afternoon. By the looks of things at McFoster's Natural Kind Café, it would look like business as usual and there was no thought of closing down.
“We thought we had no choice, if it hadn't been for the customers coming in and helping us out with their spirit and with their cash."
Foster says the donations kept rolling in over the past few weeks. Customers say it's the unique menu that offers locally grown organic vegetables with a great atmosphere that makes McFoster’s a one of a kind dining experience, worth their donations.
“I like this particular restaurant,” said Sue Clark, who stopped in for lunch. “It's not a chain and it's privately owned and I just think you get a better atmosphere and better quality food and it's more like a neighborhood type of restaurant.”
“The more people vote with their dollars and they spend on organics the more encouragement it gives people like us to keep these things (organic) out there,” Foster said.
Just as the interview finished, Foster received another donation, $5,000 from frequent guest Bruce Boyer. “They needed a hundred people at $150 a plate, February 26th and they only got 20 people to show up, that's when I decided, I mean other people have donated also besides me, I just made up the difference.”
“You know I tear up from time to time, but it's people that come in that tell us how much the restaurant means to them and how much nutrient dense, organic meals are,” Foster said.
Customers helped raise over $15,000 to help Foster pay off back property taxes. Another customer is footing the bill on past due sales taxes as well.
McFoster's will host another benefit this Saturday at 8 p.m. at the restaurant at 38th and Farnam. They are asking for $5 at the door.
