Restaurants that give away matchbooks

[Anonymous]

I was in Philadelphia recently and was surprised by how many restaurants had matchbooks at the hostess desk (yes, I took one every time). I feel like I almost never see this in DC. Do more people smoke in Philly? Different restaurant culture norms? Something else?

[Anonymous]

Philly is a working class town. More smokers. We don’t have working class. It’s rich/poor in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Philly is a working class town. More smokers. We don’t have working class. It’s rich/poor in DC.

I wouldn't be surprised if this was true, but the matches were also at high end places.

[Anonymous]

it’s in NYC at very high end places too so I don’t think the “working class” argument particularly works.

[Anonymous]

Yeah this was a feature of life in my in-laws house (they kept them to burn after using the bathroom until that caught their house on fire) and they are definitely not working class. I think it's just an old school thing that sticks around in some places.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:it’s in NYC at very high end places too so I don’t think the “working class” argument particularly works.

This. It’s just become a trend and Philly is following (or maybe they just never stopped!). Lots of people collect matchbooks and boxes. They’re nostalgic but also useful to have around a home.

[Anonymous]

L’auberge Chez Francois had them last time I was there.

[Anonymous]

Just used some today from Pineapple & Pearls

[Anonymous]

Bartaco has them

[Anonymous]

Le Diplomate too.

[Anonymous]

Matches aren’t just for lighting cigarettes.

[Anonymous]

Russian Tea Room in NYC had the first I'd seen in years (2023).

[Anonymous]

Restaurants that have sort of a romantic throwback/vintage vibe will do this--it's part of the package. Philly actually has a lot of nice spots that are throwback-y.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was in Philadelphia recently and was surprised by how many restaurants had matchbooks at the hostess desk (yes, I took one every time). I feel like I almost never see this in DC. Do more people smoke in Philly? Different restaurant culture norms? Something else?

As many places are non-smoking now, the cheaper restaurants will not spend money having them made up.

More posh expensive restaurants and hotels still have custom matchbooks, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah this was a feature of life in my in-laws house (they kept them to burn after using the bathroom until that caught their house on fire) and they are definitely not working class. I think it's just an old school thing that sticks around in some places.

Dang! Where did they eat to cause that much gas?