Horn & Hardart Automats

Horn & Hardart's 1991 closure ended the automat concept after 89 years, demonstrating how labor cost advantages disappear when technology commoditizes. The coin-operated food vending machines that once served 350,000 New Yorkers daily lost their labor-saving advantage when fast food chains achieved similar efficiency. Like a species whose unique adaptation is replicated by competitors, automats became just another quick-service option—but with less food variety.