Davenport restaurant feeding federal workers for free amid government shutdown

The only qualifier a federal employee has to meet to eat free at Flavors of India is to show a work badge to verify their employment.

Flavors of India owner Apjeet Makkar wants federal employees to treat his restaurant like their home kitchen as they wait for the federal government shutdown to end.

Makkar has fed federal workers for free at his Davenport restaurant since the federal government shutdown began on Oct. 1. His generosity went under the radar until a viral Facebook post by Abbey Soto, a Davenport resident and federal worker who had her meal comped. Soto encouraged other workers to visit Flavors of India.

“I do it from my heart,” Makkar told Iowa Starting Line.

The story gained traction and with it, media attention. A local TV station did a report on Makkar’s effort, and some people accused him of doing this for free advertising or left other derogatory comments underneath the outlet’s post, which rubbed him the wrong way.

“People might think I’m doing this for the publicity, but I’m doing it for a good reason, to be honest with you,” Makkar said.  

Makkar, who moved to Davenport from Queens, New York, said he just wanted to help out a community that has been good to him since he opened his restaurant in 2019. In fact, this isn’t the first time Makkar has given out free meals. 

“In May, I served almost more than 1,000 [free] lunches in the community, which I wanted to do because my restaurant is their restaurant,” he said. “It’s because of them that I’m still open. So you have to give back any way you can.” 

Republicans control the White House, US House, and US Senate. But they need at least seven Democratic votes to clear the 60-vote threshold and pass a spending bill in the Senate, and Democrats have said they won’t vote for a bill unless it includes an extension of tax credits that make Affordable Care Act health care premiums more affordable. Republicans have refused to negotiate, an impasse that is now entering its third week and leaving federal workers unsure about when—or in some cases, if—they’ll get paid again.

Iowa is home to 30,103 federal workers, while Illinois—which is just across the Mississippi River from Davenport and hosts the other half of the Quad Cities—has 131,134 federal workers, according to the National Treasury Employees Union.

Makkar, who also emphasized that this is not a political issue for him, also has a personal reason for wanting to feed federal workers; his sister is one.

“Most people, I believe, think federal [workers] make a lot of money; it’s not that. [Workers] make the same as an average person,” he said. “It’s not too much money, and when you have to pay certain bills, that should be the priority for them.”

The only qualifier a federal employee has to meet to eat free at Flavors of India is to show a work badge to verify their employment. Other than that, there is no limit on how many meals federal workers can have, and the entire menu is available to them without restriction.

“We open at 11, they can come at 11— lunch, dinner, no limit—come and eat, that’s about it,” Makkar said. “Don’t worry about anything else.”

AT A GLANCE:

Business: Flavors of India

Owner: Apjeet Makkar

Address: 2660 E. 53rd St. Davenport, Iowa

Hours: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday; 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday.

Phone: 563-359-6972

Online: www.facebook.com/flavorsofindiaus 

The Makker family is feeding all federal workers for free during the government shutdown at Flavors of India, their Davenport, Iowa, restaurant. (Photo courtesy the Makker family)