When I was a tyke, I remember my dad taking me to Horn & Hardart’s.
Most of you probably have no clue what that was…
Imagine walking into a shop, where there were a slew of small glass doors on all the walls, eah one showing a food item- a sandwich, a piece of fruit, a cup of coffee. And, each door had a coin slot where you could insert coins and garner that delectable item to eat.
It was one of the first fast food places- you could be in and out in under 10 minutes, after having a relatively fresh and tasty morsel to eat.
It was kind of like the places I visited in Japan, where a conveyer belt went around the bar and we could grab a piece of sushi or other delectable to eat. The owner would tally up the little plates and collect the fees for the meal. Close- but not quite the Horn & Hardart experience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCSwdUImmf8
The first Horn & Hardart was in Philadelphia- even though I’ve always associated the place with Manhattan. (Eventually, there were way more Automats in Manhattan than in Philly; at its peak there were 200 such stores.)
And, they remained a hit until the early 1990s, when the last Automat (3rs Avenue and 42nd Street) closed its doors.
Except…
The COVID pandemic, where restaurants are short wait staff, is fomenting a revival of sorts. Right now, there are two such units (they were planned before the pandemic, but the pandemic situation is making them profitable) in Manhattan.
One such unit- the Brooklyn Dumpling Shop (which, of course, is NOT in Brooklyn, but the East Village of Manhattan) opened last spring. The dumplings are produced elsewhere, but steamed behind a glass wall to entice the customers to buy the piping hot fresh concoction.
The other one is in Jersey City, called the Automat Kitchen, which opened last January. This one serves macaroni and cheese, chicken pot pie, tacos, sandwiches, and desserts. The food is prepared on site and the customer (who orders it via smartphone or online) is notified which metal cubby (with a touch screen door) holds the order.
Not quite the Horn & Hardart of old- but the concept is clearly suited to our pandemic realities.
What memories this brought me! I remember the first automat I went to when I was about 12 years old. My Girl Scout trip visited NYC and for a a bunch of country farm kids, how excited we all were!
Glad you had a chance to experience that “futuristic” dining concept, Martha.
I grew up in New York City, and ate in Manhattan Horn and Hardarts several times with either my parents or my Dad. As a child, they fascinated me. Good memories.
Glad to oblige your memories, Alana!