Reintroducing the Automat
On June 9, 1902, Horn & Hardart opened the first Automat at 818 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia. Behind its small glass doors, customers found freshly prepared food they could choose for themselves. It was convenient, but it was also a place people wanted to spend time.
More than a century later, we believe the Automat still has a place.
What made the Automat special?
The Automat made an everyday meal feel like an occasion. You could stop in for coffee, choose something from the windows, and stay awhile. It brought together good food, thoughtful design, and a simple way to serve people.
Those ideas still matter. People want a quick meal they can feel good about, in a place that feels welcoming. We think Horn & Hardart can offer that again, shaped for how people live today.
Bringing Horn & Hardart back
We began this revival with Automat Coffee. Coffee was part of Horn & Hardart from the start, and bringing it back gave us a way to reconnect with people who remember the original restaurants and meet people discovering the brand for the first time.
Our vision reaches beyond coffee. Our goal is to fully revive Horn & Hardart, including the Automat.
Our goal is to fully revive Horn & Hardart, including the Automat. These early renderings show some of the ideas that have guided us as we consider what a new Automat could look like.
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We’re building toward a Horn & Hardart that feels familiar to those who remember it and welcoming to those discovering it for the first time. There’s still work ahead, but we believe the Automat has a place in the future.
