818 Chestnut Street: Where the Automat Began
It almost ended before it even started.
Before Horn & Hardart made history with the opening of the first Automat on June 9, 1902 at 818 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, they had to recover from a major setback. Frank Hardart had seen the future during a visit to Germany: a “waiterless restaurant” that thrilled him with its promise of efficiency and modernity.
He placed an order for one of the first Automat machines. In March 1902, it began its journey across the Atlantic. Tragically, the ship carrying it collided with another vessel in heavy fog and sank, taking the first Automat to the bottom of the sea.
Even with this loss, Joseph Horn and Frank Hardart pushed forward with their vision for the future of dining. A second machine was built and arrived just in time for the grand opening on June 9, 1902.
The Early Days of the Automat
That first Automat was more about novelty than efficiency. The food inside the brass-trimmed windows was actually just a display, a sample of what you could order. Customers would insert a token, wait while the dish was cranked up from the basement on a dumbwaiter, and then insert a second token to finally receive their meal.
Early beverage machines were also introduced, dispensing coffee and milk, though the famous Horn & Hardart dolphin-head spouts wouldn’t appear until Joseph Horn found inspiration on a later trip to Italy.
A Growing Phenomenon
In just three years, the Automat expanded:
1905: 101 S. Juniper Street
1907: 909 Market Street
1912: 21 S. 11th Street
1912 marked a turning point. The final German-imported machine was replaced with a new design created by H&H’s chief engineer, John Frische. This became the Automat people remember today: a milk glass front with four rectangular windows, each operated by a simple knob. Just insert a coin, turn the knob, and open the window to retrieve your meal.
What most customers didn’t see was the human choreography behind the scenes. While the experience felt seamless up front, a hardworking team kept things moving behind the glass. Each vertical row of windows was backed by a metal drum that rotated on a pivot. Staff loaded food from the rear, swinging the drum into place so meals appeared instantly available.
It was a beautiful blend of automation and human effort.
Why We’re Celebrating
That first Automat on June 9, 1902 didn’t just introduce a new way to eat. It made good food more accessible, efficient and even a little fun.
Join us in celebrating Automat Day, a tribute to the original at 818 Chestnut Street and the dream that didn’t sink.
As a thank-you: All orders placed between June 9–16 will include a 5x7 mini print — a digital illustration of the first Automat at 818 Chestnut Street (while supplies last).
