from the initial post:

'He gave the premesis up for free on the condition that, naturally, people bought his drinks and food. It was made clear beforehand that this was the condition. He sold, out of a total of 45 people, 4 coffees! The rest had tap water, and some even had the audacity to bring flasks! Nobody bought so much as a bacon sandwich.'

That all sounds a little too pat to me. Is it an urban tale?

It has been my impression over the last 20 years, that folkies and tasty food go together quite well - witness the food thread in the BS section here.