Posted on 06/11/2022 10:42:10 PM PDT by Impala64ssa
It all started when Howard Deering Johnson, who grew up in the town of Quincy, Mass., purchased a drugstore and began peddling homemade ice cream. His dessert became so popular, he then opened an ice cream stand on Wollaston Beach, where, legend has it, he sold as many as 14,000 cones in a single day. In 1929, the first Howard Johnson's restaurant opened in Quincy Square.
Fast forward to 2022, and what was the largest restaurant chain in the United States throughout the 1960s and 1970s—with more than 1,000 locations—is now closing the doors to its last remaining location. According to Eater, the 70-year-old establishment in New York State's tourist-packed village of Lake George did not open its doors during Memorial Day weekend and seems to have been shuttered since March.
The beloved restaurant chain began to take a downturn in the late 1970s. The company was first sold to Imperial Group, one of Britain's largest companies at the time, for $630 million in 1979. Six years later, Imperial sold Howard Johnson's to "rival restaurant empire" Marriott for $314 million. After that, Howard Johnson's locations began to disappear, and by the turn of the century, there were fewer than a dozen Howard Johnson's restaurants left standing.
The lease for the Lake George location is now listed for a mere $10 and is described as a "rare business opportunity to lease a prime piece of real estate in the heart of Lake George."
Care to reminisce? Look for a group called HoJoLand on Facebook. Its description: "A group for fans of HoJoLand.com, a website dedicated to an American icon, Howard Johnson's Restaurants and Ice Cream Shops. Long live the Orange Roof!"
The most recent post in that group reads: "Lake George is officially dead. Plastic tables and chairs removed. All memorabilia removed. Cobwebs on the door."
Then come the nostalgia-fueled comments, like "Had several great meals there on my honeymoon in 1963" and "Summer 1983. Nothing but happy memories for me and Howard Johnson's."
I liked HoJo
"You should stop proclaiming your ignorance."
My most recent HoJo’s memory was going to all you can eat clam days at a college-town location in Anytown, USA. 40 years ago. In childhood happy memories of them for meals and Holiday Inn for vacation lodging.
How about Orange Julius in California?
Yup,back in the 50s my older brother used to tell my parents on a Saturday night that he was gonna hang out at the “Hojo’s” near us.
That’s because you’re a youngster...and they didn’t have any in Hawaii.
Back in my high school days (so MANY years ago), my friend and I would go to HJ’s after school to buy pistachio ice cream. We’d take it home to enjoy while playing Scrabble.
I miss innocent times like those.
The thing that saddens me even more is Sears. Back in the 60s (and 70s) everybody wanted a Sears catalogue...and today,they’re pretty much dead.
Although the Howard Johnson restaurants are closed, the hotel
chain is still alive and well. There are about 300 locations
and it’s currently owned by hotel giant Wyndham (WH).
https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/01/business-food/howard-johnsons-last-restaurant/index.html
They were very big in CT when I was growing up....
As a kid I lived in West Hartford.
Every once in a while my parents would take my sister and I in the car and we would go “over the mountain” to the Avon Howard Johnsons.
It was always a special treat and a great time.
For the second time, I am not from Hawaii (You obviously checked my page, just scroll a little bit down (you probably don’t even have to do that), and you will see that I have only been here 2 years, and I am from Texas).
Lol, I DO remember the “1 Flavor” part, but did not recognize the name of the place.
Oh no...HoJo’s?
You are too young
A local Shoney’s, near our neighborhood, closed and the building has gone thru a few different owners. Currently a great little family-style restaurant run by Greeks. I’ve got a feeling it’ll be here a long time. They do a booming sitdown and takeout business. Eaten many a meal there.
My father used to take us on road trips all the time. HoJo was always a stop for us…kinda like Cracker Barrel is today for some. Those were good days. Lost dad in 91, but I still do road trips with my wife every chance I get.
Yep. And they got the very last one (which happened to also be the first) just recently (2020). It was across the street from the beach down in Santa Barbara. The new owner, a fellow by the name of “Chad”, was so moved by The George Floyd Incident that he decided to name the restaurant after himself.
I really liked Burger Chef. I thought they were better than MicD’s.
Bucc- EEE!!! I love their hot apple pies !!!! I’m there a lot when on work road trips
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