New-York tribune., 1901-03-24
"QUICK LUNCHES. "
FFIE STORY OF A MAN WHO is GETTING
RICH OFT OF AN UNPRETEN-
TIGITS HI SINESS
TIOUS BI SINESS.

residence part OF the city or in the suburbs in
the morning and remain in the business sec
tons until evening the question how and where
TO get the midday meal has always been an
important In the early days Of the city it
was possible for a to go to his home from
his business a: the luncheon hour notwithstand-
ing the imperfect and slow means of transporta-
ton. But only the oldest inhabitants re
member those days, and the custom of taking
luncheon downtown has been an established rule
for many years. In the drygoods and whole
sale districts good restaurants have nourished for
many years. There merchants meet buyers, and
many business transactions are consummated
over elaborate meals that masquerade as lunch
cons. Near the large restaurants less preten-
tous establishments maintained for the ac-
commoCaticn OF clerks. small buyers whose
trade Is not cf sufficient Importance to warrant
statesmen in treating, and for 'transients"
With few exceptions these restaurants derive
great profit from their har trade. and in many
Instances the drinks Eet the proprietors more
than the food.
Some years ago the dairy lunch made its
appearance III the business district and men
who had been unable until then to find a restau- |
rant 10 their taste, where intoxicating |
drinks were sold, ceased bringing their midday !
luncheon from home and patronzed the new
places where hot coffee and sandwiches and
other light food could he had at a reasonable
first, and within few years the modest little
places grew to be big establishments. and were
crowded daily for several hours with and
Sgomen who in most instances waited upon
themselves from counters. where every thing ex-
cept the hot drinks was kept. Coffee . tea
at five cents cup and sandwiches or cakes at
the price the chief attractions. The
large restaurants and many luncheon clubs still
flourish, but the quick lunch places also
much toward improving them.
About five years ago il occurred to man
who had little coffee and cake stand in the
lower part Of the city that there many Teo-
PIE in New-York who could not afford Ia pay
five cents for cup of coffee tea bow
~ milk. and inasmuCh : these prices had en-
richcd the propri, Of the quick lunch places
it might he a profitable 50 heme 10 start similar
establishment with cut prices Acting ON the
thought. he opened little place in Frankfort
st. and sold coffee cents "A cup. sand
wiches AT three cents Zach and cuts OF ,ie ana
pieces II cake at three cents
1t hard work az first h. sad "b.-
cause people Thought that thcy would i,ct ro,r
stuG. But th,a,- who came ,ncr cam. again
and il wasn't long h.f"re the place w.s uay.u,
and nay customers we:e saving three cents ia
every cup Of coffee ana two on every sand
ich, and that amounts 10 something with poo
ile who look 10 the IeHnics."
Presently a branch establishment WAS started
ir B-eknan-st.. ard EoNcly place SOON fol
loved In al ii these lac's tn txpcns 3 were
kcpt down - the lowest notch ty employing. as
Ettle help possible Their we're no walters
and the bin of fare included nothing por.sh;ttIe
What was left unsod cay could be dis
posed Of the next. Customers helped themselves
L. what they wanted, and paid for il before
they sat down at the tables. or before the mar
HE shelf along the wall which rived as a 7.
for the plates and cups The places wer- kept
clean, and customers were provided with paper
napkins. The cstahiishmt ITS paid hecausr the
articles Of food were purchased IN large quaint
ties al bottom prices and the bread rolls ana
cakes We're naked 10y tine concern. The man
who opened the little place with two-cert coffee
as the chief attraction now has twenty similar
places in Ncw-YorE. ana within a year hopes
to open several more.
one advantage which thes. places have over
the ordinary downtown restaurant is that their
business hours longer Some Of them are
open for business early IA > o'clock in the
morning and remain Cpea until midnight and
many more open all day and all night.
In the bakery, which is "A prominent feat
S,re OF the business, thirty thousand cakes
are turned out daily and about five thou !
sand luavts oi bread The consumption of |
>offee is from 80 10 800 pounds a day The |
two-cent cup of coffee is largely milk and