Sixteen months into the COVID-19 pandemic, another question might be which restaurants and bars no longer accept cash at all, with cash transactions recently halted altogether in some establishments, coinciding with the rise of hand sanitizer.
Yet despite a decades-long trend - from cash to credit and debit cards to digital wallet services, such as Apple Pay, Android Pay, and Google Wallet - cash is still king at some local haunts. There are several reasons:
Advantages to Using Cash for Consumers
From the consumer’s standpoint, there are also advantages to using cash, as noted in a previous column. It’s quick when paying a tab at a busy bar or during a rushed lunchtime. You’re back at the office while your poor server is still deciphering a tableful of separate checks.
You’re hassle-free at the cash-only places and head of the line when the charge machine goes down. Oh, and ask any server if they’d prefer their tip electronically or in cash money. I’ve said before that cash is liquid, secure, immediate, there are no fees (or strings) attached, and, best of all, it’s private.
Today, however, there are also downsides for restaurants and bars to accepting only cash such as theft deterrence and reconciliation time increases. Read more >
Among the remaining cash-only bastions in St. Louis (with checks and Venmo also accepted in some cases):
Restaurants:
Bars, Taverns and Breweries:
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Originally published by St. Louis Magazine , Aug. 6, 2021