General Discussion

left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts) Wed Aug 24, 2016, 10:23 AM Aug 2016

Howard Johnson's restaurant closing

Howard Johnson’s restaurant to close, leaving only 1 more

The closing will leave only one Howard Johnson restaurant, in Lake George, New York.

Before falling on hard times, Howard Johnson took restaurant franchises to a new level. The orange-roofed eateries once numbered more than 800, with the New England-based restaurant chain predating the ubiquitous Howard Johnson hotels.

Howard Deering Johnson started the business in 1925, when he inherited a soda fountain outside Boston. That evolved into a chain of restaurants featuring comfort food and 28 flavors of ice cream. The orange roof with a blue spire represented a dependable place for travelers to park the family car, grab a meal and spend the night.

Fortunately for HoJo fans, the Lake George restaurant appears to be on solid ground and is open year round.

Read more at:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/howard-johnson-restaurant-to-close-leaving-only-1-more/2016/08/23/b501e33e-6962-11e6-91cb-ecb5418830e9_story.html

12 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Howard Johnson's restaurant closing (Original Post) left-of-center2012 Aug 2016 OP

Dang - I remember when those were everywhere. NaturalHigh Aug 2016 #1

Billy and Ethyl will not be happy. n/t ornotna Aug 2016 #2

We were talking about these restaurants, during our road trip to Asheville Siwsan Aug 2016 #3

For years, there were two of these within a half-mile of each other... malthaussen Aug 2016 #4

Well-known chef Jacques Pepin worked at HoJo ... 66 dmhlt Aug 2016 #5

I don't remember the chowder. surrealAmerican Aug 2016 #7

When I was a kid I'd ride my bike to HoJo. lpbk2713 Aug 2016 #6

I loved the HoJo's that was in a town close to mine bigwillq Aug 2016 #8

I remember them on the Pennslvania turnpike left-of-center2012 Aug 2016 #9

My mother dated Howard Johnson... Tracer Aug 2016 #10

Dang. No more TenderSweet clams. trof Aug 2016 #11

So many memories. Photographer Aug 2016 #12

NaturalHigh

(12,778 posts)

1. Dang - I remember when those were everywhere.

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Wed Aug 24, 2016, 10:25 AM

Aug 2016

ornotna

(10,795 posts)

2. Billy and Ethyl will not be happy. n/t

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Wed Aug 24, 2016, 10:28 AM

Aug 2016

Siwsan

(26,249 posts)

3. We were talking about these restaurants, during our road trip to Asheville

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Wed Aug 24, 2016, 10:29 AM

Aug 2016

My friend always insists we stop at Cracker Barrel, and since he's driving, I just grit my teeth and don't argue. But it started us talking about the restaurant chains we would go to, as kids, that you can't find, anymore. Howard Johnsons was the one we remembered most fondly.

malthaussen

(17,175 posts)

4. For years, there were two of these within a half-mile of each other...

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Wed Aug 24, 2016, 10:44 AM

Aug 2016

... next to the highway where I live. One motor hotel, and one restaurant. Both paved-over
empty lots, now, after a few other incarnations that didn't work out.

28 flavors. How innocent.

-- Mal