Penny Cafeteria

The Penny Cafeteria once stood here at five hundred eleven Third Avenue, opening its doors in December nineteen thirty-one during the height of the Great Depression. It was a unique project created by the health and fitness entrepreneur Bernarr Macfadden to provide a dignified alternative to the demoralizing breadlines that had become a common sight across New York City. Macfadden believed that even in desperate economic times, people deserved to maintain their self-respect by purchasing their own meals rather than accepting handouts. Inside, customers could buy individual items for just one cent each, or choose a complete five-course meal for a nickel. The menu focused on simple, hearty, and vegetarian fare like lima bean soup, cracked wheat, and whole wheat bread, all served twenty-four hours a day as demand required. During its busiest periods, this location served up to three thousand customers daily, turning a former commercial space into a vital community resource for those struggling to get by.