100 Years Ago This Week: June 21-28

From The Indianapolis Star, Sunday, June 22, 1913: The novelty of quick restaurants will come to Indianapolis this week with the opening of the Merchants Cafeteria in the basement of the Merchants Bank Building on Thursday.  Only a few months ago there were only four houses in the country offering this combination of a complete and varied menu found in the best cafes with a higher order of efficiency and dispatch in service that out does the “quick action” of the dairy lunch rooms, but their instant popularity has quickly spread and today more than 100 of these eating places may be found. The Merchants Cafeteria is designed to give the incoming guest a pleasing impression, which is accomplished by the predominance of white in all appointments and an unmistakable air of cleanliness.