There’s a New Cheese Vending Machine in Philadelphia

Need one more reason to fall in love with Philadelphia? How about the fact that it’s now home to a 24-hour cheese vending machine? That should suffice. 

Perrystead Dairy, located in the Olde Kensington neighborhood, has officially opened the city’s first self-service cheese dispensary, ensuring those craving cheese — be it at breakfast, lunch, or dinner time, or way into the wee hours of the night — can get it whenever they wish.  

Perrystead Dairy owner Yoav Perry shared with Travel + Leisure that he wanted to bring his customers “immediate satisfaction” whenever they were looking for a bite. As for how he got the idea for the vending machine, Perry noted he was inspired by similar operations in Europe and Philly’s own history with vending machines. 

“We thought a 24-7 self-service dispensary in our pollinator garden would be a fun convenience and product showcase — a mere few feet away from where the cheese is made and aged,” Perry told T+L. 

Inside the machine, guests will find a variety of the farm’s cheeses, including its cow’s milk Intergalactic, which places second in the 2024 World Cheese Awards, and even some charcuterie items like meats, preserves, and crackers to round out your snack time. And, according to the New York Post, the machine is also stocked with charcuterie boards made out of marble, wood, or slate. Perry told the outlet he’ll start stocking cheese knives soon too.  

And, for the month of May, which happens to be American Cheese Month, Perrystead is also offering a limited-edition cheese named Umbra, which it made in collaboration with Murray’s in New York City. According to T+L, you can get it online, in-shop, and, naturally, in the vending machine too. 

As for how the community is responding to the new vending machine, it appears to be a resounding hit. If you take a look at the comments on the cheese producer’s Instagram, people are leaving words of praise like, “I’m ready for this idea to become the next trend,” “I got cheese here this afternoon and need to get another fix soon,” and “That’s it, we’ve reached the pinnacle of civilization.” Which, yes, feels accurate.