Working with the vision of a place where all kinds of people could come together to drink coffee and eat vegetarian food, they transformed the restaurant into what is now Hard Times.

[1] The location is a staple of the West Bank neighborhood, and a popular gathering place for local artists, musicians, students, and political activists.

[2] Minneapolis Second Ward City Council Member Cam Gordon formerly held open office hours in the cafe on the first Tuesday morning of each month.

[3] Hard Times faced closing in January 2000, when several arrests were made as a result of a drug sting at the cafe.

The owners met all of the health and fire codes necessary to reopen, but refused to sign a contract obligating them to close at 2 am and hire a licensed security guard.