April 2022 Edition

THE RESURGENCE OF THE MODERN

I n 1902, Horn & Hardart opened the first automat in Philadelphia at 818 Chestnut Street, where passersby can still find the original “Automat” sign today. Ten years after the success in Philadelphia, the company opened stores inNYC. Whilemany consider the automats to be the first iteration of a quick-service restaurant, they differed from our current fast-food establishments Elegant seating, art deco architecture, and an element of sophistication meant that patrons from all social classes ate in these affordable food halls. The Automat merged home style, self-service food with technology in a way that Americans had not Experienced. At its peak in the 1950s, Horn & Hardart operated over 100 locations in New York City alone. The chain of automats fed over 800,000 people a day, making it the world’s largest restaurant chain. The rise of fast-food restaurants and drive-throughs of the 1960s marked the decline of Horn & Hardart’s Automat and by the early 1990s, their final restaurant had closed.

given the desire for contactless pickup and convenience. Spurred by the COVID-19 global pandemic, customers’ behaviors have changed. From “drive-up” options at Target and Walmart to ordering through apps like DoorDash and GrubHub, people want convenience. To evolve with this new demand, RPI Industries developed a locker system and formed a partnership with Panasonic. ONDO is a temperature-controlled locker system for contactless food pick up and is similar to the Automat. What makes these lockers different is that each locker can toggle between hot, cold, or ambient temperatures at the flip of a switch. ONDO’s patented technology also includes touchless doors which make the unit a completely hands-free experience, differing from the coin-operated doors of the automats. RPI’s strategic partnership with Panasonic gives businesses the best of both worlds: a state-of-the-art smart locker with powerful software technology and support.

The automat concept is making a resurgence today,