GLENN: “Pizza with a purpose.”
That’s the motto of Boston area restaurant “Dudley Dough.”
They serve the usual fare. Pizza, coffee, and…economic justice.
Dudley Dough was opened in 2015 by the nonprofit organization Haley House to test out their ideas of economic justice and fair wages.
But sadly, just two years after opening, Dudley Dough is closing their doors. By all accounts, the pizza was delicious and fresh. It was their social justice inspired business model that was rotten.
The pizza joint started out with money (a $100,000 donation from the owner of the New England Patriots) but since they weren’t intent on really making any dough on their own, the business failed.
Look, Dudley Dough had some really nice ideas. They made sure they paid their employees more than minimum wage and donated pizza for daily tutoring sessions. That’s nice!
But what would really be nice, for the employees and clients, is if they were still open. Making money is not evil. It’s a fact that capitalist minded people and the businesses they start are better able to share their money and success with exponentially more people.
If Dudley Dough struck a good balance between taking care of their community and taking care of finances, they might still be in business.
Let’s all learn a lesson from Dudley Dough. Social justice is worse than anchovies on pizza.
