– Update honor system The Vault

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (AP) – According to the owner, small-town living is what allows a North Dakota coffee shop to operate on the honor system.

Since The Vault in Valley City opened in October, people have left 15 percent more money than the asking price.

David Brekke (BREK’-ee) is the owner. He renovated a nearly 100-year-old bank building and cut down on overhead by cutting out baristas. Customers can choose from Keurig single-serving coffees, java from a commercial brewer and soft drinks.

Customers can pay by credit card, cash or check. There are security cameras, but Brekke says there hasn’t been much to view.

Fourteen-year-old Nita Warcken says she likes to visit a place where there’s not someone “hovering over you all the time.”

Previously..

Valley City (CSi) Valley City is becoming known as a place where the honor system is alive and well.

At The Vault cafe, customers are able to pay for their purchases with cash, check or credit card. An overhead camera keeps an eye on the business that has no employees.

To take note of that, Wednesday, a community photo shoot took place in front of The Vault coffee shop, on Central Avenue, with about 200 individuals participating.

The Valley City Area Chamber of Commerce organized the photo shoot and gathering, and city officials blocked off a portion of Central Avenue for a short time, as people held up their coffee mugs for the overhead photograph.

The Vault owners, David & Kimberly Brekke, say the people of Valley City make the honor system possible. They hope this positive publicity about the self-service cafe will lead to future economic development an bring additional people to Valley City

A Youtube video has attracted worldwide media attention about the Valley City business.