Reviewed by: Patience Itson
New Birmingham nonprofit cafe will let diners pay what they can
Reading time: 3 minutes
A new nonprofit is working to make delicious, chef-driven meals more accessible to everyone in Birmingham—including those down on their luck.
Somedays Cafe, founded by Jessica King, is a pay-what-you-can cafe coming soon to The Magic City with a simple idea: everyone deserves a good meal and a seat at the table, regardless of their financial situation.
We sat down with King to learn more about what to expect at the cafe.
How Somedays Cafe’s pay-what-you-can model works
King was inspired by A Place at the Table, a nonprofit pay-what-you-can cafe in Raleigh, North Carolina. She had long dreamed of opening a restaurant and was equally passionate about addressing food insecurity.
“[One of] my best friends experienced food insecurity and was on SNAP and WIC, and she was someone that looked just like me. The more I learned about food insecurity, the more I learned that it doesn’t really have a face.”
Jessica King, Founder, Somedays Cafe
That understanding helped shape Somedays’ mission. Food insecurity can affect anyone, and King wants the cafe to offer a welcoming place where people can enjoy a meal without stigma.
So, how does it work exactly? At Somedays, diners will have four ways to participate:
- Pay the menu price: Pay the listed price for your meal.
- Pay it forward: Contribute extra to help cover someone else’s meal.
- Pay what you can: Pay a minimum of $2-3 for your meal.
- Volunteer: Give 30 minutes of your time in exchange for a meal.
The model allows those who can afford to pay more to help offset the cost for those who cannot. As a nonprofit, Somedays will also rely on grants, sponsorships and community fundraising to support its mission.
“Think of it as a hand up over a handout.”
Jessica King, Founder, Somedays Cafe
A seat at the table for everyone in Birmingham
For King, making meals accessible is only part of the mission. She also wants to challenge the idea that food-focused nonprofits have to sacrifice quality or the dining experience.
Somedays will feature a thoughtful, chef-driven menu designed to make people excited about what they are eating.
“This is not a traditional soup kitchen. It’s a place where all people are invited to have a seat at the table at the same table and have a delicious, amazing meal that people, all people, will feel excited about.”
Jessica King, Founder, Somedays Cafe
The name Somedays reflects the ups and downs that everyone experiences. Some days, a person may be able to pay for their meal and someone else’s. Other days, they may need a little help themselves.
The cafe’s four-leaf clover logo is a nod to luck, something King knows can change from one day to the next.
What’s next for Somedays?
As King works toward opening a permanent location, Somedays will focus on fundraising, community partnerships and pop-up events with local businesses and chefs.
While Somedays does not have a permanent location yet, King hopes to open the cafe in Spring 2028. In the meantime, she plans to host pop-ups with local businesses and chefs, raise funds and introduce Birmingham to the pay-what-you-can model.
Follow Somedays on Instagram for updates on upcoming pop-ups, fundraising opportunities and plans for the cafe.
