Stuff You Should Know - How Automats Worked
Automats were a type of self-service restaurant that became popular in the early 20th century, particularly in New York and Philadelphia. Horn and Hardart were pioneers in this field, creating a chain that became synonymous with the concept. These establishments were known for their Art Deco design, cleanliness, and inclusivity, allowing people from all walks of life to dine there without discrimination. The automats offered a wide variety of fresh food, including their famous coffee, which was served from ornate dispensers. Despite their initial success, automats began to decline in the 1960s due to suburbanization and changing consumer preferences. The last automat closed in 1991, but their legacy lives on as a precursor to modern fast food and vending machine dining. The podcast also highlights the cultural impact of automats, noting their appearance in media and their role in providing affordable meals during tough economic times.
Key Points:
- Automats were self-service restaurants popular in the early 20th century, especially in New York and Philadelphia.
- Horn and Hardart's automats were known for their inclusivity, serving all customers equally regardless of race or economic status.
- The automats featured Art Deco design and offered fresh food, including their famous coffee, which was replaced every 20 minutes.
- The decline of automats began in the 1960s due to suburbanization and changing dining habits, with the last one closing in 1991.
- Automats are considered a precursor to modern fast food and vending machine dining, influencing today's dining culture.
Details:
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5. 🏢 The Rise of Automats: Horn and Hardart's NYC Expansion
- By 1932, Horn and Hardart had expanded to 42 automats in New York City and an additional 20 in Philadelphia, marking significant growth within 20 years of entering the New York market in 1912.
- Horn and Hardart became the largest restaurant chain in the United States during this period.
- Despite the economic challenges of the Great Depression, Horn and Hardart thrived, attributed to their affordable and comforting food offerings.
6. 📉 The Decline of Automats: Impact of Suburbanization
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7. 🍔 Fast Food Evolution: Automats' Legacy and Transition to Franchises
- Central commissary kitchens were an efficient model when business was booming, but became unsustainable with reduced demand, leading to a decline.
- Horn and Hardart's transition into fast food franchises was a strategic move, building on the automat concept but simplifying the menu to around 10 items, compared to the hundreds offered at automats.
- Fast food franchises retained the core concept of automats but removed the glitz and idealism, opting for simplicity and fewer choices.
- The last Horn and Hardart automat, located near Times Square, operated from 1977 until 1991, eventually closing as a nostalgic symbol before becoming a Gap store.
8. 🎥 Automats in Pop Culture: From Films to Children's Books
- Automats were iconic in New York, akin to visiting the Empire State Building or seeing a Broadway play.
- Francis Ford Coppola directed a movie in the 60s featuring an automat.
- Automats appeared in pop culture, including Bugs Bunny cartoons and a Flintstones episode.
- The children's book "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" features kids feeding themselves at an automat.
- Pat Boone launched a version of the automat called the Dynomat in 1962, which was unsuccessful.
- Andy Warhol conceptualized the Andimat, offering food via a pneumatic tube, but it was never realized.
- Modern attempts to revive the automat concept include the Brooklyn Dumpling Shop, using app-based ordering systems.