Fotomat was a prominent American retail chain of drive-through photo development kiosks, founded by Preston Fleet in 1965 in San Diego, California. Known for their distinctive small, yellow-roofed huts, they peaked around 1980 with over 4,000 locations, offering a convenient way to drop off film and pick up developed photos the next day.

Discontinuation and Decline:

Decline (1980s): The rise of one-hour photo labs in grocery and drug stores rendered the overnight service obsolete by the late 1980s.

Reduced Footprint: By 1990, only about 800 huts remained, down from the 4,000 peak.

Digital Shift: The rise of digital cameras in the 1990s finalized the decline.

Corporate Changes: The company was acquired by Konishiroku Photo Industry Ltd. (later Konica Photo Imaging) in 1986, and eventually sold to Viewpoint Corporation in 2002.

Final Closure: While some kiosks persisted for years, the company's online digital image services ceased operations on September 1, 2009.

Legacy and Repurposing: Many of the original kiosks still exist, having been repurposed into other businesses, such as coffee-to-go booths, watch repair shops, and ATMs.