Unique payment plan at Corydon restaurant

Corydon, IN (WDRB News) -- Pay what you want when you go out to eat. That seems to be working for one southern Indiana restaurant.

Historic downtown Corydon, Indiana is known for its small locally-owned shops and restaurants. The newest eatery in town is a place called The Green Door. "It is not about how much can you pay, I want people to experience a great meal," says Green Door owner Desiree Thayer.

She has come up with a unique business plan for her customers. You won't find any prices listed on the menu. She lets her customers decide how much they want to pay for their meal.

"When I formulated the concept," she explains, "it wanted it to be on a donation basis, and the whole concept was if you give people more than they expect they reciprocate."

Her small white tablecloth restaurant has room for 26 diners.

Terri Jones and her friends were having lunch on Thursday at the Green Door. She said her chicken meal was very good. But jokingly she told us she was not yet ready to commit how much she will be willing to pay for her meal. "I will wait until dessert and see what happens," she said.

Thayer says her restaurant emphasizes fresh, locally grown, organic food. After six months in business, the donation policy is working and her restaurant is profitable.

Thayer is a long-time resident of Corydon, loves her community, and is planning on expanding her business interests.

She plans to soon buy an old church just down the street from her restaurant and convert it into a music hall focusing on local talent.

"That's what Corydon is about," she says, "the way things used to be, it is Mayberry, that is what Corydon is."