The Horn and Hardart Automat restaurant chain was, at one time, a fixture in both New York City and Philadelphia. It frequently appears in movies, particularly from the '30s, and even in cartoons. At one time it was the largest restaurant chain in the United States, by any measure. It is a recognizable piece of Americana: so much so, that some are surprised to find that the chain only had restaurants in those two cities.
This documentary does a good job of researching the history and the people, and presenting the material in a cohesive and entertaining fashion. More that that, though, this is an important story of business management, corporate culture, being in the right business for the right market--and, unfortunately, failing to adapt when market conditions change. I highly recommend this for anyone interested in business management, business continuity, and innovation.
And for anyone else interested in a good story.
(I knew about the existence of the Automat, having seen references to it. Having seen the documentary, I now realize that I *was* in New York City before the last restaurant closed, and I regret having missed the chance to eat there.)
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