Hey Brooklyn! Get started with $20 off your first subscription of $40 or more.

The Automat: A Must-See Documentary on the Origins of Fast Food

The Automat: A Must-See Documentary on the Origins of Fast Food
TLDR

The Automat was a commissary-style eatery that offered fresh cooked meals from vending machines. The Automat was popular in the 20th century and was known for being Depression-proof. However, social changes eventually led to its decline.

Intro

You may have seen the documentary The Automat recently. If not, we highly recommend you check it out. The film tells the story of the rise and fall of the first fast-food chain in America— known as Horn & Hardart in Philadelphia and the Automat in New York City.

The automat was a vending machine popularized in the 20th century that offered fresh cooked meals in a commissary-style eatery. Patrons could select their food from a series of compartments, which would then release their meal into a tray.

The documentary is interesting from a hospitality perspective. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the origins of fast food with a healthy twist.

A Revolutionary Documentary on the Origins of Fast Food

The Automat was a chain of restaurants that were popular in the 20th century. They were basically like vending machines, but instead of candy bars and chips, you could get fresh cooked meals.

There's a new documentary all about the Automat, and it's a really interesting watch. It was started in Philadelphia, and it was popular because the food was delicious and it was "Depression-proof." At one point the restaurants were feeding 10 percent of Philadelphians. For context, McDonalds serves 7.5 percent of the American population daily.

If you're interested in history or food, then I definitely recommend checking out the Automat documentary.

How a Vending Machine Changed the Way We Eat

The Automat was a chain of self-service restaurants in the early 20th century that were quite popular. The restaurants were pretty much like vending machines in that you took your food from metal compartments, but the food was cooked fresh in a commissary-style kitchen and then brought up to the machines.

The Automat was especially popular during the Depression because it was a cheap place to eat. And, even though fast food restaurants eventually replaced the Automat, I think there's something to be said for the appeal of convenience and freshness that the Automat offered.

A Look at the History of Horn & Hardart

If you're a fan of nostalgia, then you'll love The Automat.

This documentary takes a look back fondly on the history of the defunct Horn & Hardart cafeteria chain. It features high-profile interviewees, including Mel Brooks, who wax poetic about the delicious food and unique dining experience that the automats offered.

For those of you who are unfamiliar, the Horn & Hardart automat was a vending machine popularized in the 20th century that offered fresh cooked meals in a commissary-style eatery. Patrons would select their food from a window, and it would be delivered to them in a compartment within the machine.

Although automats are no longer in business, this documentary offers a fascinating look at their history and importance within the hospitality industry.

The Decline of a Popular Commissary-Style Eatery

The Automat provided cheap food and a sense of urban sophistication for new urban residents in the 20th century. However, the restaurant chain started to decline in popularity in the latter half of the 20th century as city dwellers began flocking to the suburbs. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the Automat as a nostalgic throwback to a simpler time.

Where Are They Now?

You might be wondering what happened to the Automat after its heyday. Unfortunately, the chain of restaurants slowly declined in popularity and was eventually forced to close its doors for good.

Part of the reason for the Automat's decline was the advent of fast food chains like McDonald's and Burger King, which offered customers cheaper and faster options. In addition, the Automat's vending machines became outdated and were no longer able to compete with the latest technology.

Despite its decline, the Automat holds an important place in American history as one of the first restaurant chains to offer fresh, cooked meals in a vending machine.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, the Automat was a pretty revolutionary concept, and one that's still relevant today. With the rise of fast food and the popularity of vending machines, the Automat was definitely ahead of its time. Even though the original restaurant chain is no longer around, its impact is still felt in the food industry today.

TLDR

The Automat was a commissary-style eatery that offered fresh cooked meals from vending machines. The Automat was popular in the 20th century and was known for being Depression-proof. However, social changes eventually led to its decline.

Intro

You may have seen the documentary The Automat recently. If not, we highly recommend you check it out. The film tells the story of the rise and fall of the first fast-food chain in America— known as Horn & Hardart in Philadelphia and the Automat in New York City.

The automat was a vending machine popularized in the 20th century that offered fresh cooked meals in a commissary-style eatery. Patrons could select their food from a series of compartments, which would then release their meal into a tray.

The documentary is interesting from a hospitality perspective. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the origins of fast food with a healthy twist.

A Revolutionary Documentary on the Origins of Fast Food

The Automat was a chain of restaurants that were popular in the 20th century. They were basically like vending machines, but instead of candy bars and chips, you could get fresh cooked meals.

There's a new documentary all about the Automat, and it's a really interesting watch. It was started in Philadelphia, and it was popular because the food was delicious and it was "Depression-proof." At one point the restaurants were feeding 10 percent of Philadelphians. For context, McDonalds serves 7.5 percent of the American population daily.

If you're interested in history or food, then I definitely recommend checking out the Automat documentary.

How a Vending Machine Changed the Way We Eat

The Automat was a chain of self-service restaurants in the early 20th century that were quite popular. The restaurants were pretty much like vending machines in that you took your food from metal compartments, but the food was cooked fresh in a commissary-style kitchen and then brought up to the machines.

The Automat was especially popular during the Depression because it was a cheap place to eat. And, even though fast food restaurants eventually replaced the Automat, I think there's something to be said for the appeal of convenience and freshness that the Automat offered.

A Look at the History of Horn & Hardart

If you're a fan of nostalgia, then you'll love The Automat.

This documentary takes a look back fondly on the history of the defunct Horn & Hardart cafeteria chain. It features high-profile interviewees, including Mel Brooks, who wax poetic about the delicious food and unique dining experience that the automats offered.

For those of you who are unfamiliar, the Horn & Hardart automat was a vending machine popularized in the 20th century that offered fresh cooked meals in a commissary-style eatery. Patrons would select their food from a window, and it would be delivered to them in a compartment within the machine.

Although automats are no longer in business, this documentary offers a fascinating look at their history and importance within the hospitality industry.

The Decline of a Popular Commissary-Style Eatery

The Automat provided cheap food and a sense of urban sophistication for new urban residents in the 20th century. However, the restaurant chain started to decline in popularity in the latter half of the 20th century as city dwellers began flocking to the suburbs. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the Automat as a nostalgic throwback to a simpler time.

Where Are They Now?

You might be wondering what happened to the Automat after its heyday. Unfortunately, the chain of restaurants slowly declined in popularity and was eventually forced to close its doors for good.

Part of the reason for the Automat's decline was the advent of fast food chains like McDonald's and Burger King, which offered customers cheaper and faster options. In addition, the Automat's vending machines became outdated and were no longer able to compete with the latest technology.

Despite its decline, the Automat holds an important place in American history as one of the first restaurant chains to offer fresh, cooked meals in a vending machine.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, the Automat was a pretty revolutionary concept, and one that's still relevant today. With the rise of fast food and the popularity of vending machines, the Automat was definitely ahead of its time. Even though the original restaurant chain is no longer around, its impact is still felt in the food industry today.

Doron Segal
Doron Segal

Hey I'm Doron, the co-founder & CTO of Per Diem — a mobile app platform for restaurants. I'm also a dad and a husband. I love to travel and meet new people.I love creating things, and see people using the stuff I built.Prior to Per Diem I worked at Saildrone, OpenTable, Apple, Beats Music, Siemens.

Tomer Molovinsky
Tomer Molovinsky

A second time founder with a passion for building products at the intersection of hospitality and technology. I've had the pleasure of launching reservation systems, mobile payment solutions, and loyalty programs at OpenTable and Resy, and witnessed how operators were losing a direct connection with their customers online. We built Per Diem to strengthen the relationships that businesses have with those customers, and to ensure that local businesses can thrive in today's economy.

Ashley Rodriguez
Ashley Rodriguez

Ashley is a freelance writer and podcast producer based in Madison, Wisconsin. She hosts a podcast called Boss Barista and writes an accompanying newsletter with full transcripts of each episode and articles about coffee and restaurant work. You can check out her work here (ashleyrodriguez.work/).

Explore featured restaurants and cafes

How Fly Boy Blue’s Mobile App Strategy Sets a New Standard for Perth Coffee Shops
How Fly Boy Blue’s Mobile App Strategy Sets a New Standard for Perth Coffee Shops
Read Case study
What Creative Strategies Keep Crave Cookies' Sales Growing Week After Week?
What Creative Strategies Keep Crave Cookies' Sales Growing Week After Week?
Read Case study
Great UX & Unlimited Coffee: Why Fresh Baguette Chose Per Diem Over Craver
Great UX & Unlimited Coffee: Why Fresh Baguette Chose Per Diem Over Craver
Read Case study
How Palace Coffee Co. Achieved a 25% Sales Increase By Switching to Per Diem
How Palace Coffee Co. Achieved a 25% Sales Increase By Switching to Per Diem
Read Case study
What Sets The Bagelers Coffeehouse Apart from Others in Chicago
What Sets The Bagelers Coffeehouse Apart from Others in Chicago
Read Case study
How Dough & Co. Saves Big by Switching to Per Diem for Pizza Deliveries
How Dough & Co. Saves Big by Switching to Per Diem for Pizza Deliveries
Read Case study
How is Primal Bowls Leveraging the Mobile App to Fuel Expansion?
How is Primal Bowls Leveraging the Mobile App to Fuel Expansion?
Read Case study
Why Teaven’s Mobile Ordering Success Is a Model for Other French Tea Brands?
Why Teaven’s Mobile Ordering Success Is a Model for Other French Tea Brands?
Read Case study
How Mid Atlantic Seafood Leverages Per Diem’s App for Higher Delivery Sales
How Mid Atlantic Seafood Leverages Per Diem’s App for Higher Delivery Sales
Read Case study
How Crave Cookies Shifted to Per Diem to Challenge Crumbl
How Crave Cookies Shifted to Per Diem to Challenge Crumbl
Read Case study
Coffee Dose Cafe's Winning Website Strategies for App Promotion
Coffee Dose Cafe's Winning Website Strategies for App Promotion
Read Case study
How Bakeries Like Chip City Use Referral Programs to Increase Customer Counts
How Bakeries Like Chip City Use Referral Programs to Increase Customer Counts
Read Case study
Skip the Line: How Groovy Goose Coffee Streamlined Orders With a Mobile App
Skip the Line: How Groovy Goose Coffee Streamlined Orders With a Mobile App
Read Case study
How Boba Bliss Drove Sales Through Mobile App Coupons
How Boba Bliss Drove Sales Through Mobile App Coupons
Read Case study
What Makes Iron Paffles & Coffee Stand Out in Charlottesville
What Makes Iron Paffles & Coffee Stand Out in Charlottesville
Read Case study
How Kona Coffee Roasters Transformed NYC’s Commuter Coffee Culture with Per Diem
How Kona Coffee Roasters Transformed NYC’s Commuter Coffee Culture with Per Diem
Read Case study
How Kimchi Box Became Michigan's Favorite Restaurant With Mobile Ordering
How Kimchi Box Became Michigan's Favorite Restaurant With Mobile Ordering
Read Case study
How Arkansas' the Busy Bean Tops Charts on Google Play With a Custom Mobile App
How Arkansas' the Busy Bean Tops Charts on Google Play With a Custom Mobile App
Read Case study
How Crema Coffee & Soda is Satisfying Customers in Utah With a Soda Pop App
How Crema Coffee & Soda is Satisfying Customers in Utah With a Soda Pop App
Read Case study
How Lucky Coffee Boosts Mobile App Adoption Through Email Campaigns
How Lucky Coffee Boosts Mobile App Adoption Through Email Campaigns
Read Case study
How Per Diem Helps Oaks Coffee House Give Back to The Chattanooga Community
How Per Diem Helps Oaks Coffee House Give Back to The Chattanooga Community
Read Case study
Run Your Cafe Like a Bank: How Ethereal Cafe Created a Starbucks-Style Mobile App
Run Your Cafe Like a Bank: How Ethereal Cafe Created a Starbucks-Style Mobile App
Read Case study
From One-Timers To Regulars: How Empire Tea and Coffee Transformed Customer Loyalty with Per Diem
From One-Timers To Regulars: How Empire Tea and Coffee Transformed Customer Loyalty with Per Diem
Read Case study
How Cosmic Coffeehouse Teamed Up with Per Diem and Square for an Out-of-This-World Grand Opening
How Cosmic Coffeehouse Teamed Up with Per Diem and Square for an Out-of-This-World Grand Opening
Read Case study
How Kino's Coffee and Others Have Boosted Their Sales with Push Notifications
How Kino's Coffee and Others Have Boosted Their Sales with Push Notifications
Read Case study
Coupon Codes That Work: Chip City's Free Cookie Strategy for Customer Acquisition
Coupon Codes That Work: Chip City's Free Cookie Strategy for Customer Acquisition
Read Case study
From Local Comfort Food to High Tech: How Joanie’s Modernized Operations
From Local Comfort Food to High Tech: How Joanie’s Modernized Operations
Read Case study
Rebranding a Bubble Tea Brand: How Niko Niko Boba Expanded Beyond Chatime
Rebranding a Bubble Tea Brand: How Niko Niko Boba Expanded Beyond Chatime
Read Case study
How Plomo Quesadillas Won Over Gen-Z With Square Loyalty
How Plomo Quesadillas Won Over Gen-Z With Square Loyalty
Read Case study
The Perfect Blend: How Coffee Dose Boosted Brand Loyalty with Per Diem
The Perfect Blend: How Coffee Dose Boosted Brand Loyalty with Per Diem
Read Case study
Ambee Coffee's Rebrand and Per Diem: A Match Made for Expansion
Ambee Coffee's Rebrand and Per Diem: A Match Made for Expansion
Read Case study
Why Kino's Coffee Switched Mobile Apps: A Case Study in Improving the Customer Experience
Why Kino's Coffee Switched Mobile Apps: A Case Study in Improving the Customer Experience
Read Case study
How DoorDash Drive and Per Diem Fueled Masala Wok and Tikka Shack's Delivery Dreams
How DoorDash Drive and Per Diem Fueled Masala Wok and Tikka Shack's Delivery Dreams
Read Case study
Per Diem's Square Integration: How Island Flavor Streamlined Operations
Per Diem's Square Integration: How Island Flavor Streamlined Operations
Read Case study
Hidden Grounds Case Study: When Apps Meet Customer Loyalty, Magic Happens
Hidden Grounds Case Study: When Apps Meet Customer Loyalty, Magic Happens
Read Case study
Scan for a Free Cookie: How Chip City's QR Codes Drove App Adoption
Scan for a Free Cookie: How Chip City's QR Codes Drove App Adoption
Read Case study
Close Line
Try Per Diem
Sign up for our monthly newsletter for all the latest in local restaurant trends, industry insights, and Per Diem product updates.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Close Line

Unlock new insights and trends by
downloading Ultimate Guide for Launching a Mobile Ordering App.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Close Line