The automat was the first fast food, serving freshly prepared meals through vending machines. Real plates were used instead of packaging. Competition from drive-through restaurants led to its decline, but vending machines remain popular in the Netherlands. Bamn! Automat in New York City offers a modern interpretation with portable snacks and a cashier.
The automat was truly the first fast food, served differently than modern fast food. Instead of placing an order with a cashier, customers were faced with rows of vending machines, where they could pour in their nickels and get freshly prepared meals like pot or stew. The people preparing the food stocked the vending machines. A vending machine usually featured a kitchen behind the line, which kept restocking. First popularized in Europe, vending machines came to the United States in 1902, with the first opening in Philadelphia.
There were many differences between the automat and today’s fast food restaurants. First was the use of real plates, glasses and cups to serve food instead of today’s packaging or cartons, which most fast food restaurants employ. Food choices in the United States tended to reflect traditional comfort foods. In addition to meals such as stew or meatloaf, sandwiches and soup were also popular. Early vending machines featured a cashier who took nickels for each item, but as coin-operated vending machines became popular, cashiers were phased out.
Competition from fast food restaurants eventually led to the demise of the automaton. But there are many other reasons why these convenient restaurants have become less popular in the United States. First, driving into restaurants and then driving through windows became a popular way to get food, and there was no need to leave the car or dine communally with others. Additionally, food became too expensive to buy with nickels or even quarters, and the ability for vending machines to take dollars was not widely available. The last original distributor in the United States closed up shop in 1991.
In Europe, vending machines have also declined in popularity, but remain popular in the Netherlands. The most successful of these is a chain of vending machines called FEBO, which combines counter service with vending machines. The standard choices available include things like burgers, nuggets, and fries. You will find FEBO vending machines distributed throughout the Netherlands, with over 100 locations.
The success of FEBO vending machines and the Netherlands in general and the nostalgia for these convenient restaurants in the United States prompted Robert Kwak, David Leong and Nobu Nguyen to try to open a vending machine again in the United States. In 2006, the restaurant, Bamn! Automat opened in New York City. The food is not served on crockery and there are no tables in this modern interpretation. Most foods are portable “snack”-like items such as fried mozzarella sticks or chicken nuggets. A cashier is on hand to serve items such as ice cream and French fries.
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