-
Waldorf System
Date EstablishedLocation1903Springfield, Massachusetts
Description
Waldorf System, was the first lunchroom chain in New England, founded by Henry S. Kelsey in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1903 and named after the Waldorf Hotel in New York City. It prepared most foods in central kitchens then delivered wrapped portions to its restaurants for final preparation and sale. Within its first 12 years, had 23 locations in Boston and Cambridge and 37 more elsewhere in New England and eventually had around 200 locations in seven states. In 1921, Samuel Bickford, a Waldorf vice-president, began his own lunchroom business in New York, named Bickford's Lunch and later merged with Hayes lunch to compete with Waldorf. The Waldorf System was publicly was acquired by Restaurant Associates in the 1960s, and the brand faded out of existence in the 1970s.
-
Cruising through many states of America, remnants of eateries of the past can still be found. Travel back to a stage in time with me to rekindle the memories of food franchises and the lost cuisine of bygone days. We can remember the presence of these dining experiences in their heyday long ago, but still etched in moments and recollections.
-
