A Massachusetts pizzeria is facing renewed public scrutiny over a two-year-old policy that charges non-customers $3 to use its restrooms. The restaurant, Source in Cambridge, had its policy brought to wider attention when a local guide shared a photo of the sign on social media.
The sign reads: '$3 restroom fee for non-customers,' a policy that quickly ignited a debate online. Some commenters expressed outrage, interpreting the fee as a way to deter the unhoused.
However, Source owner Daniel Roughan stated that the fee is not intended to target homeless individuals. Instead, Roughan explained to the Boston Globe that the revenue generated from the bathroom fee is donated to Y2Y, a youth-led homeless shelter in Cambridge. The policy was initially implemented after Roughan observed a pattern of non-customers, primarily young people waiting for all-ages shows at a nearby venue, using the restaurant's facilities for extended periods.
Roughan recounted an incident from two years prior where a customer complained about long bathroom queues caused by non-patrons. "She said, 'My friends and I are sitting right over there, and we're just curious. Why the [expletive] do I have to wait to use your bathroom behind all of these teenagers?'" he told the outlet. This prompted him to implement the fee to prioritize paying customers.
Employees at Source now collect the fee at the host stand, granting access to non-customers who agree to pay. Roughan believes the policy helps the staff manage customer flow and ensures that patrons who are dining or have reservations can access the facilities without excessive waits. Supporters of the policy online have echoed this sentiment, with some commenters finding the charge fair for non-customers.
Over the past two years, Roughan has raised approximately $200 through the bathroom fee, which has been donated to Y2Y.
