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Both locations of Afro Deli are offering free meals to laid off federal employees
Afro Deli/Facebook

Twin Cities Restaurants Step Up to Help Furloughed Federal Works Updated

As the government shut drown drags on, these places are hoping to ease the pinch

by Cinnamon Janzer and Joy Summers Updated
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Both locations of Afro Deli are offering free meals to laid off federal employees
| Afro Deli/Facebook
by Cinnamon Janzer and Joy Summers Updated

As the government shutdown stretches into its 27th day, a handful of bars, restaurants, and coffee shops have stepped up to help furloughed federal employees by offering discounts to those affected. While the best thing for these workers are reinstated paychecks, these offers can certainly help to ease the blow in some small way. Plan to present an employee ID or pay stub to take advantage of these deals.

Thanks for everything you do, unpaid federal workers, from all of us at Eater Twin Cities. Send us a tip if there are any other businesses you spot reaching out to help.

Locations have been organized from West to East.

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Punch Bowl Social Minneapolis

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The massive suburban game room/restaurant Punch Bowl Social is offering a 25% discount on all food, drinks, and games on January 11th. It even applies to any other happy hour, brunch, or daily specials.

1691 Park Pl Blvd, St Louis Park, MN 55416
(763) 400-3865
(763) 400-3865
Punch Bowl Social/Facebook

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The Bachelor Farmer Cafe

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Owner Eric Dayton was moved after witnessing all the long lines and hard work the TSA agents were dealing with, all without pay. The all day Nordic cafe offers free lunch to furloughed workers.

1404, 200 N 1st St, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 206-3923
(612) 206-3923
Brandon Werth/The Bachelor Farmer

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Funky Grits

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Funky Grits, the cozy casual restaurant in South Minneapolis is extending an offer of 50% off entire orders to anyone affected by the shutdown, including federal, government, and TSA employees.

805 E 38th St, Minneapolis, MN 55407
(612) 367-4978
(612) 367-4978
Funky Grits/Facebook

Birchwood Cafe

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The all organic cafe with the strong sense of social justice has jumped in to help those out of work from the shutdown with a free meal for those affected, along with their partner or kids.

3311 East 25th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55406
(612) 722-4474
(612) 722-4474

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BlueNose Coffee

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This funky, independent Farmington coffee shop with a stunning tea selection is offering workers can get a free beverage. There’s a limit of one per customer.

20700 Chippendale Ave W, Farmington, MN 55024
(651) 333-9398
(651) 333-9398
BlueNose/Facebook

Brasa Premium Rotisserie

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Furloughed employees can bring their ID badge to both Brasa in Northeast and Saint Paul for 10% off a meal.

777 Grand Ave, St Paul, MN 55105
(651) 224-1302
(651) 224-1302
A plate of roast chicken coleslaw, green salad, and corn bread Brasa /Facebook

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Brake Bread

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As a nod to those whose grocery bills have been effected by the government shut down, Brake Bread is offering free bread along with an encouragement to share with others. Since its inception as a bike delivery bakery, there has been a Share the Loaf program. People can buy a loaf to pay forward to someone who needs it. “Sharing bread will always create a more secure world.”

1174 7th St W, St Paul, MN 55102
(651) 300-9136
(651) 300-9136
A large commercial oven filled with bread. On the top of the oven it says, “This machine surrounds hate and forces it to surrender.” Brake Bread/Facebook

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Afro Deli & Grill: St. Paul

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From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. until the shutdown ends, both Afro Deli locations are extending offers of free meals to government employees who are either laid off or working without pay.

5 W 7th Pl, St Paul, MN 55102
(651) 888-2168
(651) 888-2168
Afro Deli/Facebook

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Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Woodbury

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Affected federal employees can get one free ticket per day at the food-focused cinema on any Monday or Thursday through January. With their federal I.D., employees can get into any new or current release although, it’s not good for special programming and events.

9060 Hudson Rd, Woodbury, MN 55125
(651) 829-2623
(651) 829-2623
Alamo Drafthouse/Facebook

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Punch Bowl Social Minneapolis

1691 Park Pl Blvd, St Louis Park, MN 55416

The massive suburban game room/restaurant Punch Bowl Social is offering a 25% discount on all food, drinks, and games on January 11th. It even applies to any other happy hour, brunch, or daily specials.

1691 Park Pl Blvd, St Louis Park, MN 55416
(763) 400-3865
(763) 400-3865
Punch Bowl Social/Facebook

The Bachelor Farmer Cafe

1404, 200 N 1st St, Minneapolis, MN 55401

Owner Eric Dayton was moved after witnessing all the long lines and hard work the TSA agents were dealing with, all without pay. The all day Nordic cafe offers free lunch to furloughed workers.

1404, 200 N 1st St, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 206-3923
(612) 206-3923
Brandon Werth/The Bachelor Farmer

Funky Grits

805 E 38th St, Minneapolis, MN 55407

Funky Grits, the cozy casual restaurant in South Minneapolis is extending an offer of 50% off entire orders to anyone affected by the shutdown, including federal, government, and TSA employees.

805 E 38th St, Minneapolis, MN 55407
(612) 367-4978
(612) 367-4978
Funky Grits/Facebook

Birchwood Cafe

3311 East 25th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55406

The all organic cafe with the strong sense of social justice has jumped in to help those out of work from the shutdown with a free meal for those affected, along with their partner or kids.

3311 East 25th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55406
(612) 722-4474
(612) 722-4474

BlueNose Coffee

20700 Chippendale Ave W, Farmington, MN 55024

This funky, independent Farmington coffee shop with a stunning tea selection is offering workers can get a free beverage. There’s a limit of one per customer.

20700 Chippendale Ave W, Farmington, MN 55024
(651) 333-9398
(651) 333-9398
BlueNose/Facebook

Brasa Premium Rotisserie

777 Grand Ave, St Paul, MN 55105

Furloughed employees can bring their ID badge to both Brasa in Northeast and Saint Paul for 10% off a meal.

777 Grand Ave, St Paul, MN 55105
(651) 224-1302
(651) 224-1302
A plate of roast chicken coleslaw, green salad, and corn bread Brasa /Facebook

Brake Bread

1174 7th St W, St Paul, MN 55102

As a nod to those whose grocery bills have been effected by the government shut down, Brake Bread is offering free bread along with an encouragement to share with others. Since its inception as a bike delivery bakery, there has been a Share the Loaf program. People can buy a loaf to pay forward to someone who needs it. “Sharing bread will always create a more secure world.”

1174 7th St W, St Paul, MN 55102
(651) 300-9136
(651) 300-9136
A large commercial oven filled with bread. On the top of the oven it says, “This machine surrounds hate and forces it to surrender.” Brake Bread/Facebook

Afro Deli & Grill: St. Paul

5 W 7th Pl, St Paul, MN 55102

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. until the shutdown ends, both Afro Deli locations are extending offers of free meals to government employees who are either laid off or working without pay.

5 W 7th Pl, St Paul, MN 55102
(651) 888-2168
(651) 888-2168
Afro Deli/Facebook

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Woodbury

9060 Hudson Rd, Woodbury, MN 55125

Affected federal employees can get one free ticket per day at the food-focused cinema on any Monday or Thursday through January. With their federal I.D., employees can get into any new or current release although, it’s not good for special programming and events.

9060 Hudson Rd, Woodbury, MN 55125
(651) 829-2623
(651) 829-2623
Alamo Drafthouse/Facebook

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