Honorable sandwich bar provides quick bite to eat

Downtown on 14th Street — between the library and the bus stop — a sandwich shop makes people think about honor and trust.

Phreddy’s self-serve sidewalk café operates on the honor system.

Passersby pause. They stare. They look a little puzzled.

Why is that jar of money left unattended? Couldn’t someone just steal a sandwich, some cookies or a banana?

Ron Burns, who owns Phreddy’s Hot Philly’s and Wasabi Japanese Grill, says his friends think it’s a crazy idea.

 “They tell me I’m going to get ripped off,” Burns said.

One time he was. A man took the glass vase with $4 inside. When caught, he told Burns it was just too tempting.

And if people don’t put in enough money to cover all the items they take, Burns shrugs it off.

“If someone needs it that bad, it’s not going to break me.”

He started the honor bar in May for busy people with short lunch breaks.

He puts sandwiches, salads, sodas, fruit, cookies and chips on ice. The price? 93 cents — plus tax — per item.

Hungry workers grab their lunch and make their own change.

“We believe most people are basically honest,” Burns said.

Lunch customers at Wasabi watch to see if people pay, he said.

“Customers are almost cheering for the people to buy something.”

Lupe Hickey, who works at the State Office Building, said the homeless who frequent the street like the lunch stand — and they police one another,  Hickey said.

“It’s a very unique situation. It says a lot about Lincoln,” she said.

Reach Jodie Fawl at 473-7235 or jfawl@journalstar.com.