Vancouver restaurant put up sign saying 'Liam Neeson eats here for free.' Hours later, he showed up
Neeson passed on the 'free meal' but left the staff with the next best thing — a picture-perfect moment.
Around 6:30 pm in May, an employee named Kyle “Doug” Gus was making sandwiches inside the shop when he heard his co-worker Serge Patoka scream, “Holy sh*t!” In the heart of the Greater Vancouver area, the staff at the Big Star Sandwich Company (BSSC) sensed a commotion, but they had never expected what they were seeing. Outside the shop, actor Liam Neeson had made an impromptu appearance in response to a chalkboard sign that said he could claim a free meal there, according to reports by TMZ and HuffPost.
'Where is my free sandwich?'
It all started when BSSC’s manager, Matt Pruim, found out that the actor was shooting a film called “Hard Powder” in the same area, and he had humorously put up a chalkboard sign outside the restaurant that read: "Liam Neeson eats here for free." Pruim, not even in his wildest dreams, had expected that the "Schindler's List" actor would actually show up to claim his free meal. "We absolutely did not think he’d actually show up," Alex Johrden, director of operations for Big Star Sandwich, confessed. While the staff wasn't sure how the actor had seen the signboard, they were definitely thrilled to see him at their store. "We assume he heard it through the production crew, who had been in and out all day," Johrden added. Moreover, he confirmed that Neeson, in his most intimidating voice, asked the staff about his free meal. "Where is my free sandwich?" he asked, leaving the staff speechless.
Reciprocation means the world to fans
As it happened in this case, a study published in Advances in Social Science, Education, and Humanities Research reported that fans experience positive effects and feelings when their gestures are reciprocated and acknowledged by stars. Meanwhile, another study published in Tourism Management Perspectives documented how a celebrity’s attachment to a place spills positive affection and triggers people’s desire to visit the endorsed location. As it turns out, today, BSSC is even more famous than it has ever been, all because of Neeson, who decided to take their joke a step ahead and showed up for his free meal.
Come back soon, Neeson
Unfortunately, at the time, Neeson didn’t have time to eat, but he made sure to snap a quick photo with the staff members, including Gus and Pakota, as posted on BSSC’s Instagram page. They are hoping that he will come back for a bite another time, especially to enjoy the new feature sandwich they've named after him, per CBC. "We’re hoping he comes back in to take us up on the offer," Johrden said.
Ten-on-ten marketing strategy
Meanwhile, reacting to the incident, @lets_be_genki commented. "I have to love a star who is also a real person. #liamneeson. Hmmm, I make a pretty good sandwich..." Similarly, @u2ginger shared, "I legit can't get enough of stories like this. I love it when stars are as cool as you want them to be! Bravo, Liam Neeson! PS: Free dinner at our place." @catherinerunnals wrote, "Liam is a cool guy and a great actor. That made their day, and Liam was nice to drop by."
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