An automat is a type of fast-food restaurant where food and drink are served through a vending machine, typically without waitstaff. The world's first automat, Quisisana, opened in Berlin, Germany …

This was the Automat, and it was feeding millions of Americans every single day over a century ago. So why did something so revolutionary, so wildly popular, simply disappear?

Jun 3, 2024 · In 1902, the pair opened their first Automat, where customers served themselves by accessing prepared dishes in windowed lockers — like classy vending machines meant to show off …

The Automat was a place where you could eat pie for breakfast if you wanted to, and in 1964, Horn and Hardart sold an average of 822 pieces of pie across their New York locations each day between the …

Jul 13, 2012 · Joe Horn and Frank Hardart’s Automat was a marvel of efficiency that revolutionized the American food service industry.

May 6, 2020 · The Automat may have faded, but fast food lives on. Learn about the surprising history of fast food restaurant founders and then, check out these vintage menus from the heyday of the automat.

Jul 28, 2021 · An automat and a vending machine may seem similar, but they have distinct differences. An automat is a type of restaurant where customers can select a variety of meals from behind glass …

Jul 20, 2025 · The Automat was one of the wonders of New York. When Joe Horn and Frank Hardart opened their magnificent flagship on July 2, 1912-a a two-story facade of stained glass, marble …

Dec 5, 2022 · Before there were fast-food drive-thrus, the Automat was the place to go for a quick meal. Here's how they served up food, coffee, and inclusivity.

But before fast-food chains dominated the landscape, there was the automat—a futuristic, self-service restaurant that combined convenience with affordability. Automats were the first major attempt at …