Story
The Horn and Hardart Automat
New York's first automat opened in 1912. It was operated by the Philadelphia-based food service company Horn & Hardart, who were the first non-Europeans to receive patented vending machines from Max Sielaff's Automat factory in Berlin.
699 Eleventh Avenue
Aside from brewing notably good New-Orleans Style Coffee, Horn & Hardart was famous for hosting a particular style of power lunch.
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Horn & Hardart
The automat, borrowed from Germany, delighted its eight-hundred-thousand daily customers with a selection of hot foods in pristine tin trays for the cost of a few coins.
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766 Eighth Avenue
Hard & Hardart's machines offered individually packaged slices of pie and cake, plus macaroni and cheese, baked beans, and creamed spinach.
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2-10 John Street
The pre-packaged foods that the automat offered were extremely popular, especially during the Depression.
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465 Lexington Avenue
Unfortunately, Horn & Hardart was not able to stand up to on-the-go options of fast-food restaurants moving into town. The last automat closed in 1991, though various revival acts have surfaced since.
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