The Ames Fan Club

Restaurants and Food => Current Restaurants => Topic started by: amesman on May 11, 2005, 04:53:15 PM

Title: Ground Round
Post by: amesman on May 11, 2005, 04:53:15 PM
Another subsidiary of Howard Johnson's. This chain is just a shell of what i once was. In some cases, a Ground Round often took over an old Howard Johnson's restaurant property.
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: Caldor1999 on May 11, 2005, 05:03:30 PM
ive herd of them but i nevre seen one
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: 76&AmesfanmanBBTB on May 11, 2005, 05:43:04 PM
Heres Ground Round's old logo I like it :D

I remember The Ground Round!:D:D:D:D

there used to be one in Waterbury,CT inside it was fancy with chandelier type lights over the tables and had dark green walls

I especially remember their great food and eating either ice cream/cereral or something out of those plastic upside down baseball cap shaped bowls lol:insane:

THAT WAS WEIRD BUT INTERESTING!:duh::insane:
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: 76&AmesfanmanBBTB on May 11, 2005, 05:46:51 PM
heres Ground Rounds new logo




Not as great as the old one :no: :boring:


seems to fast-foodish lol :insane: maybe not

This IS supposed to be a family restaurant type of place right?:huh:
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: 76&AmesfanmanBBTB on May 11, 2005, 05:57:36 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by 76&AmesfanmanBBTB
Heres Ground Round's old logo I like it :D

I remember The Ground Round!:D:D:D:D

there used to be one in Waterbury,CT inside it was fancy with chandelier type lights over the tables and had dark green walls

I especially remember their great food and eating either ice cream/cereral or something out of those plastic upside down baseball cap shaped bowls lol:insane:

THAT WAS WEIRD BUT INTERESTING!:duh::insane:


Hey if you go to the Ground Round Website

and go to Menu & Bevrages

and go to the kids menu they still have the ice cream served in plastic upside down baseball cap LOL:insane:

BTW its called Super Sundae

I wonder where those plastics baseball have been before being taken out and putting ice cream in it hmmmmmm?:mrpink:

Naw! I think Ground Round is clean the baseball caps are problably just new ones each day since I believe the kids take them home LOL :insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane:

Ground Round was always an unsual restaurant to me
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: amesman on May 11, 2005, 07:10:42 PM
The old logo was done by the Ground Round Howard Johnson's division. The new one was done by whoever owns the chain now.
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: 76&AmesfanmanBBTB on May 11, 2005, 08:14:06 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by 76&AmesfanmanBBTB
heres Ground Rounds new logo




Not as great as the old one :no: :boring:


seems to fast-foodish lol :insane: maybe not

This IS supposed to be a family restaurant type of place right?:huh:



LOL the new logo the way the R is set up looks like it spells "Ground Pound":insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane:
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: BillyGr on May 11, 2005, 09:09:57 PM
A group of the franchisees took over as the corporate group last year after the original "corporate" went bankrupt (this was when about 1/2 the restaurants closed suddenly - a few have been re-opened by franchisees).  Sounds vaguely familiar - and sort of appropriate - since Howard Johnson's did basically the same thing (franchisees buying out hte company).

And yes - you keep the baseball caps (or always did, anyway) - they used to call them slider sundaes (maybe a reference to the ball cap?).

QuoteOriginally posted by amesman
The old logo was done by the Ground Round Howard Johnson's division. The new one was done by whoever owns the chain now.
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: store215 on May 12, 2005, 02:07:41 PM
The logo they are using now is actually the logo that started to be used under the previous ownership. The new co-op is also using it.
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: Jag67 on May 12, 2005, 07:03:12 PM
I remember Ground Round...they had this scary clown mascot guy that used to creep me out when I was little. i remember right when you walked in they used to give the kids baloons blown from a balloon-maker thingy (Not sure what theyre called) shaped like the clown. This GR was demolished in 1994 or 1995, then the lot sat vacant for about 2 years uintil a bank was built on the site.
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: Caldor1999 on May 12, 2005, 07:06:48 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by Jag67
I remember Ground Round...they had this scary clown mascot guy that used to creep me out when I was little. i remember right when you walked in they used to give the kids baloons blown from a balloon-maker thingy (Not sure what theyre called) shaped like the clown. This GR was demolished in 1994 or 1995, then the lot sat vacant for about 2 years uintil a bank was built on the site.

lol i hate clowns not cause there scary because there anyoing:insane::insane::insane::insane:
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: store215 on May 12, 2005, 09:13:47 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by Jag67
I remember Ground Round...they had this scary clown mascot guy that used to creep me out when I was little. i remember right when you walked in they used to give the kids baloons blown from a balloon-maker thingy (Not sure what theyre called) shaped like the clown. This GR was demolished in 1994 or 1995, then the lot sat vacant for about 2 years uintil a bank was built on the site.

Bingo the clown! I think I still have a few of those plastic cups and crayons around somewhere....

After 1997, the clowns, popcorn, and other stuff all went away, and so did many of their locations
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: amesman on May 13, 2005, 06:25:50 AM
About 3 of Albany's Ground Round restaurants(2 of which were old Howard Johnson's) have closed in the last 5 years. The locations that exsist now, are on Western Avenue, and State Street in Schenectady(also a former Hojo's).
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: HoJofan206 on May 18, 2005, 03:48:08 AM
Sadly, The Ground Round is following in the footsteps of the Howard Johnson's restaurants that they grew from.  Does anyone know why so many HoJo's became Ground Rounds even back in teh 70's? :hurt:
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: amesman on May 18, 2005, 06:33:09 AM
Well, I think the reason for Ground Round taking over former HoJo locations, is because they wanted to make the chain grow, but without the expense of building new buildings(this was done by Howard B. Johnson, who was the founder's(Howard D. Johnson) son). In the 70's, HBJ wanted to save money by cutting the cost of buildings(that's how the Mansard style restaurants came about), and opening new divisions such as RCG and GR in older Howard Johnson's buildings. All in all, greed, and the lust for saving money is what led to the demise of Howard Johnson's. And, yes, I do believe that The Ground Round is following that same fate :(
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: 76&AmesfanmanBBTB on May 18, 2005, 05:10:26 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by amesman
Well, I think the reason for Ground Round taking over former HoJo locations, is because they wanted to make the chain grow, but without the expense of building new buildings(this was done by Howard B. Johnson, who was the founder's(Howard D. Johnson) son). In the 70's, HBJ wanted to save money by cutting the cost of buildings(that's how the Mansard style restaurants came about), and opening new divisions such as RCG and GR in older Howard Johnson's buildings. All in all, greed, and the lust for saving money is what led to the demise of Howard Johnson's. And, yes, I do believe that The Ground Round is following that same fate :(


Yeah Ground Round's new logo makes the company seem like they're  trying to save money!:mad:
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: HoJofan206 on May 19, 2005, 01:06:54 PM
It appears to me that Howard Johnson (the son) did nothing but bleed the assets of the company dry.  :mad:
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: amesman on May 19, 2005, 05:00:07 PM
That's exactly what happned. HDJ told HBJ to "let it grow", but it never happened. Instead, smaller restaurants were built(i.e. Phase 4(Mansards)), and poorer locatons were chosen. In 1980, he sold the company to the Imperial Group, then in 1985, it was split between Marriott(restaurants), and Prime Motor Inns(motels). Now, Cendant owns the motels, and the franchisees of the restaurants have to fend for themselves..
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: Anonymous on May 19, 2005, 09:55:05 PM
Enfield, Manchester and Glastonbury CT have all closed in the past 3 years..

Manchester and Glastonbury are now both 99 Resturants..
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: HoJofan206 on May 21, 2005, 02:57:46 AM
What is a "99 Restaurant"? :huh:
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: HoJofan206 on May 24, 2005, 12:48:18 AM
Thanks for posting that pic!  Had never heard of one of those restaurants before!
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: 76&AmesfanmanBBTB on May 25, 2005, 02:43:01 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by HoJofan206
Thanks for posting that pic!  Had never heard of one of those restaurants before!

your welcome:yup:
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: storehistoryguy on December 23, 2005, 07:43:06 PM
They closed and knocked down my Ground Round just last summer. It was in Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania. It opened around the late 1970's.
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: storehistoryguy on December 23, 2005, 07:48:50 PM
Augusta, ME.

(http://www.drew-group.com/gr/groundround.JPG)
http://www.drew-group.com/gr/grindex.php3
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: storehistoryguy on December 23, 2005, 07:51:01 PM
Mystic, CT.

(http://www.mys-tv.com/tourism/pictures/860536428101.jpg)
http://www.mysticmore.com/sitemap/860_536_4281_01.html
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: storehistoryguy on December 23, 2005, 07:52:47 PM
The Ground Round's newer sign.

(http://www.vlra.com/pmmimages/groundround.gif)
http://www.vlra.com/restchamplain.htm
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: Zayre88 on December 23, 2005, 08:26:32 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by storehistoryguy
Augusta, ME.

There is still a small portion of the original Hojo Mansard roof with its porcelain enamel shingles at the Augusta Ground Round.
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: Crawford on December 23, 2005, 08:58:07 PM
Had my 5th birthday party at one in Rumford RI. It is now a Roast House Restaurant, before that it was a Pub Dennis and a Beef & Barrel. The one in Warwick Mall closed and is now a Chelo's. The one in Pawtucket is still in business. I believe these places were owned by Howard Johnson's.
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: d_fife on December 23, 2005, 11:32:16 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by Crawford
Had my 5th birthday party at one in Rumford RI. It is now a Roast House Restaurant, before that it was a Pub Dennis and a Beef & Barrel. The one in Warwick Mall closed and is now a Chelo's. The one in Pawtucket is still in business. I believe these places were owned by Howard Johnson's.

The one in the mall of new hampshire in manchester new hampshire closed. the one in South portland closed, though it was remodeled. they remodeled restuarants.
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: BillyGr on December 25, 2005, 08:01:12 PM
Yes, they were originally founded as a offshoot of the Howard Johnsons company.

All the corporate owned locations closed down last year when the company went bankrupt.  The franchisees wound up buying the company (kind of like what happened with Hojo's as well) and so far seem to be doing well (even reopening a few of the company locations and planning to continue expanding).
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: Ames#1171 on December 26, 2005, 12:33:31 AM
Here is the closed Ground Round in  Parma, OH:

Taken from: http://www.loopnet.com/stealth/pfui.asp?url=/templates/forlease/fl_profile_page1.asp&PID=13929063


(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v671/jdb2001/Store%20Pics/GroundRoundParma.jpg)

Property Description
 


 
The Parma site is regular in shape with approximately 150 feet of frontage along the south side of Day Drive. The site has access from the surrounding roads. At the time the property was acquired from CNL, the site was zoned "Retail Business".

Location Description
 


 
The Parma Property, formerly operated as a Ground Round, is located on the south side of Day Drive in Parma, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, which is approximately 10 miles outside of Cleveland, Ohio, across from the Parmatown Mall. The property is located in an area of primarily retail, commercial, restaurant and related development. Other retail and restaurant uses located in proximity to the Parma property include Target, Kohl's,Wal Mart, Sears, Red Lobster, Outback, Olive Garden, and TGI Friday's.

Suite Availability
 


 
View Suite/Floor Size Min Max Rent Availability Type Sub Lease
 1 8,800 N/A N/A $90,000.00/Yr 25 May 2004 Restaurant N/A
No Space Description Available
 

Contact Information
 
Trustreet Properties, Inc.
Dale van Gelder Phone: 888-780-2555
 
 
 
To access this listing directly use: http://listings.loopnet.com/13929063        5/25/2004P
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: d_fife on February 26, 2006, 05:37:51 PM
here is the ground round in the newburgh mall in newburgh ny

from http://www.urbanretail.com/urpweb.nsf/Properties?OpenFrameset
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: greg8370 on February 27, 2006, 10:23:58 AM
the one in groton, ct. is now a bank.
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: Rayco7030 on February 28, 2006, 02:29:28 PM
there was one in a pshopping ctr infront of the haymarket square across from the eastfield mall in springfield.ma thats now closed:hurt:
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: BillyGr on March 04, 2006, 12:32:19 AM
This is the (current?former?) Ground Round in Schenectady - on State Street (Route 5) at the intersection with Route 7 (as a matter of fact I was coming off Rt 7 and stopped at the light taking these photos).  As you can see by the sign it closed for "remodelig" October 10th - as you can also see since these pix were taken at the end of February, it doesn't look like much remodelling has been going on in the last 4 months!

(P.S. - There was also a bit of snow on the parking lot that didn't look like it had been touched either)

In addition, the only other still operating location in the Albany area (on Western Ave. - a newer one in a hotel) just recently changed to the 1228 grill (address of the hotel) as well.  I just checked - both are still listed on the locator at groundround.com, so who knows what the fate of this one is.

There were many others in this area - Mohawk Mall, Latham Circle, East Greenbush (Walmart Plaza) - all demolished, Central Ave (Now part of the Depaula Dealership - this was a former HoJo that dates back to the 30's or 40's) - still used as part of the dealership and others that I'm not remembering at this point.
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: BillyGr on March 29, 2006, 05:53:34 PM
First is the location at Central & Everett in Albany - was a HoJo (and an older one as well) then became GR.  Was colsed for a couple years, now part of DePaula dealership.

2nd is the newer location on Western Avenue (attached to a hotel) - this one opened a couple years ago (not terribly long before the company went bankrupt) and just recently switched the sign to read "The 1228 Grill" - no idea why.

3rd is (I think) a former location on Wolf Road in Colonie.  It was most recently a Lone Star (they closed within the last 3 weeks - they closed about 30 restaurants in total at one time).  I believe it was Ground Round previously - it sits next to Chili's (which is on the former Cranberry Bog site) - it had been empty for a bit before LoneStar took over.
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: Zayre88 on April 27, 2006, 06:36:34 PM
Ground Round in Bangor Maine on Odlin Road.
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: amesman on April 27, 2006, 08:17:47 PM
Here's the Kingston, New York location in the Hudson Valley Mall. It had closed for a little while, then reopened with the new design and logo. On the outside, both the new and old logos are on the wall.
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: beachgal26 on April 27, 2006, 11:20:01 PM
Wow!  I have never seen a free-standing Ground Round before.  My only memory is the one that was one of attached restaurants to the Apple Blossom Mall in Winchester, VA.  Since it was located near my parents', we only got there once a year, but we loved it and the baskets of popcorn that they brought to the table as soon as you sat down.  (It was so good that you had to remember to save room for your food!)

I did not know that they were connected to Howard Johnson and am sad to hear that many of them are closing....

:hurt::(:(
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: Ameskid on April 28, 2006, 07:39:34 PM
The Cincinnati, OH Ground Round is now a Feldy's. Apparently they have converted it into a live performance/restaurant sort of place. Never been there after it closed.
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: tomasher on June 14, 2006, 11:35:14 AM
Two I remember:

- Roosevelt Boulevard and Red Lion Road - Philadelphia, PA.  Became a Lone Star, and now a car dealer.  This location is next to a Friendly's.

- NJ 38 in Maple Shade, NJ near Moorestown Mall.  I THINK this is now a French restaurant, but I might have my locations mixed up.  Maybe it's a car wash, I don't know.
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: amesman on June 14, 2006, 07:45:18 PM
Well, a bit of bad news has come to the Kingston Ground Round, pictured by me above. Last week sometime, the found the night manager of the restaurant stabbed to death. This has been the second crime to come to the Hudson Valley Mall, the first being the February 2004 mall shooting.
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: beachgal26 on June 15, 2006, 01:43:00 AM
Does anyone know if they have any locations in the south or is it another northern chain?  (It seems like all the chains that I like best like Friendley's, HoJo, etc. are only up north now and we surely miss them!!!

:( :no:
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: BillyGr on June 15, 2006, 08:22:43 PM
The current website lists locations in CA, CT, GA, IA, KS, MA, ME, MI, MN, MO, NH, NY, ND, OH, PA, RI, SD, VT & WI - so the only one that is "south" would be Georgia (Snellville)

I 'm not sure if they had other more southern locations at one time, but since they converted many Hojo's at various times, it seems likely they did (and unlikely that they would have had just that one in GA with nothing else around).

Of course, they have shrunk a lot - for example there are now 10 listed in NY, at one point you could have found almost that many just in the Albany area!
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: BillyGr on July 16, 2006, 03:37:49 PM
This is a former Ground Round in Newark, Delaware (just off Exit 1 of I-95 on Route 896).  The local phone book lists both Ground Round & Matildas with the same address (apparently the GR closed about a year ago give or take, as Matilda's has been voted the best New restaurant in one of the local papers (see banner).  The inside is a bit different, including a bar with corrugated metal roofing, but that may be more like the newer GR style (only one in Albany area was new, and I never went to that one) - though the part of having seating to both sides when you come in is the same (bar area right, other left, restrooms in the middle).

This is just a block or so down from the HoJo (now Friendly's).
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: store215 on July 16, 2006, 04:58:41 PM
The Ground Round near me in Montgomeryville, PA had a similar look/layout to it. Unfortunetly, it didn't survive after the 2004? bankruptcy and was knocked down for a Macaroni grill :mad:
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: d_fife on August 09, 2006, 06:03:57 PM
former ground round in vernon ct
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: d_fife on August 09, 2006, 06:05:25 PM
former ground round in wethersfield ct
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: d_fife on August 15, 2006, 02:29:40 PM
ground round in auburn me
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: d_fife on August 17, 2006, 01:43:25 PM
in bangor me
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: d_fife on August 18, 2006, 03:43:09 PM
newburgh ny one
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: d_fife on August 18, 2006, 05:29:00 PM
the one in kingston ny and i bleieve the shooting last year was here.,
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: shakethis1234 on October 18, 2006, 11:27:50 AM
what happen to them they all closed in syracuse area most of them became tullys
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: powersbt on October 18, 2006, 02:06:10 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by shakethis1234
what happen to them they all closed in syracuse area most of them became tullys

The One in New Hartford was ordered to Shut down on Monday by Company Management. I guess they didn't even finish the day out there. Looks to be the Final Chapter for the Ground Round.
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: Marc82 on October 18, 2006, 06:38:18 PM
That's not the first time they've done that. I remember reading numerous articles about them kicking customers out and locking the doors permanently.
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: mjb1124 on February 07, 2007, 01:27:53 AM
I vaguely remember the Ground Round in New Brunswick, NJ from when I was really young.  According to my folks, it was originally a HoJo, as was the motel next door, which became Econo Lodge for a while but is now HoJo once again.  The restaurant is now a Fuddruckers.
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: mjb1124 on February 07, 2007, 01:30:22 AM
Also, to add to my above post, I do also remember eating in at least one other Ground Round location as a kid (I don't remember where), and while I don't have any recollection of the main courses there, I do vaguely remember the clown and the popcorn now that I think about it.
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: XISMZERO on February 07, 2007, 01:45:50 AM
Ground Round at Hampshire Mall in Hadley, Mass. This mall is quite 70s vintage. Picture taken 2006.
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: XISMZERO on February 07, 2007, 01:46:58 AM
Here's a vacant one in Springfield, Mass. across the Eastfield Mall. Took this picture last month.
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: XISMZERO on February 07, 2007, 01:49:51 AM
Here's another vacant Ground Round label scar in Stoneham, Mass. on the dead side of the [former Caldor/Ames] Redstone plaza. This entire half is stricken with vacancy.
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: powersbt on February 07, 2007, 09:30:04 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by XISMZERO
Ground Round at Hampshire Mall in Hadley, Mass. This mall is quite 70s vintage. Picture taken 2006.

Man, that photo looks like it could have been taken in Sangertown Square if it was not for the Ground Round. Very Similar Characteristics.
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: amesman on February 07, 2007, 04:18:50 PM
Sangertown and Hampshire are both Pyramid malls built around the same time, hence the similar characteristics and look, etc.
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: Crawford on April 06, 2007, 10:10:34 PM
In East Providence Rhode Island, another former Ground Round has been demolished. The building had started life as a Ground Round and went through various names changes and remodelings and eventually became The Roast House. Several weeks ago a truck belonging to the overnight cleaners exploded in the parking lot partially damaging the side and roof of the building. It was hoped that it would reopen but sad to say it did not.  I loved their food here and it will be sadly missed. Reportedly a bank bought the property, last thing that street needs is another bank since there are at least 6 within a mile of each other, not counting the one in the Stop and Shop.
Title: Ground Round is back in Boston!
Post by: Lastdaysofrain on July 09, 2007, 02:16:02 PM
Location Results
Boston
811 Mass. Ave.
Boston, MA 02118
(617)989-8801


Just opened, haven't been yet.
Title: Re: Ground Round
Post by: Zayre88 on October 16, 2010, 03:47:43 PM
Ground Round, although headquartered in Maine apparently has only one location left in the state, in Bangor.

The Augusta location is no longer listed, the Auburn location has been replaced by a Margarita's in 2007 and the South Portland location closed years ago...  The Nashua NH location was demolished and is now the site of a Hampton Inn.

Only 1 other locations remains in New England in RI.
Title: Re: Ground Round
Post by: gu4ever on October 17, 2010, 10:55:56 AM
Quote from: Zayre88 on October 16, 2010, 03:47:43 PM
Ground Round, although headquartered in Maine apparently has only one location left in the state, in Bangor.

The Augusta location is no longer listed, the Auburn location has been replaced by a Margarita's in 2007 and the South Portland location closed years ago...  The Nashua NH location was demolished and is now the site of a Hampton Inn.

Only 1 other locations remains in New England in RI.
The Ground Round in the food court at the Mall Of NH is now a Mens Warehouse.
Title: Ground Round
Post by: beachgal26 on October 23, 2010, 12:18:47 AM
The only Ground Round where I ever ate was in the Apple Blossom Mall in Winchester, WV.  I do not know how long they've been closed since we no longer have family in that area and I also heard that they have completely re-vamped the mall from a regular inside mall to the new outer shopping concept.   However, we always loved to go there, the food was great and the atmosphere was fun!
Title: Re: Ground Round
Post by: MikeRa on October 26, 2010, 06:59:41 PM
The Ground Round location that was near where i live (SE corner Red Lion Road and Roosevelt Boulevard) was demolished several years ago and replaced by a auto dealership
Title: Re: Ground Round
Post by: ynkeesfn82 on October 27, 2010, 11:47:12 PM
There was one on Farmington Avenue in Plainville back in the day. They demolished it. It's approximately where Walgreen's is now. I say approximately because at that corner was also a big white building that was once called Wayside Furniture. Wayside Furniture merged with Pilgrim Furniture. They closed down the Bristol Commons Store. Then Levitz moved from Southington to the Plainville Commons on New Britain Avenue and Pilgrim Furniture built a giant store in the old Levitz Building in Southington. Pilgrim now has stores in Milford and Manchester. Walgreens bought the historic Pilgrim Furniture building and demolished it.
Title: Re: Ground Round
Post by: DerangedHermit on October 29, 2010, 09:46:45 AM
They have one right near me in the middle of nowhere in Brookhaven, NY on Montauk Highway. Just opened relatively recent too (like 3 or 4 years ago).
Title: Re: Ground Round
Post by: retailisking on December 01, 2010, 06:03:45 PM
Quote from: Zayre88 on October 16, 2010, 03:47:43 PM
Ground Round, although headquartered in Maine apparently has only one location left in the state, in Bangor.

The Augusta location is no longer listed, the Auburn location has been replaced by a Margarita's in 2007 and the South Portland location closed years ago...  The Nashua NH location was demolished and is now the site of a Hampton Inn.

Only 1 other locations remains in New England in RI.

South Portland became an IHOP; the old, undersized IHOP across from the Maine Mall was demolished.
Title: Re: Ground Round
Post by: retailisking on December 07, 2010, 11:54:59 PM
Ground Round is experimenting with a new concept in Maine...

http://www.kjonline.com/news/ground-round-still-around_2010-12-03.html

Ground Round relocates, adds sports bar ambience

By Betty Adams badams@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer


HALLOWELL â€" The Ground Round restaurant that closed this summer in Augusta has relocated and been partly renamed.

Diners and sports fans will find the new Ground Round Sports Grille sharing a building with Sparetime Recreation Bowling Alley on Whitten Road. The grand opening is today.

The owner, Andy Couture, of Jefferson, is the same, as are at least three of the chefs and a number of waitstaff.

Couture owned the Ground Round at the Holiday Inn at Augusta and continues to own the Ground Round franchise as part of the Freeport-based Ground Round Independent Owners Cooperative, which was formed in July 2004.

The Ground Round opened at the Holiday Inn site in 1993.

“I actually sold the building and equipment at the old site because I could not compete with the influx of new restaurants that all had the same menu I had,” Couture said Thursday. “We have developed a new concept in the Ground Round chain, a sports grill concept which we intend to move to other bowling centers nationally as well as fit to go into malls or airports or any smaller footprint. This is the first prototype.”

Couture said customers will find the same popular Ground Round items and a number of extras.

“It’s a totally new look for Ground Round,” Couture said. “It’s probably the most legitimate sports bar in the Greater Augusta area. It’s really something you have to see to appreciate.”

The restaurant will have its own entrance, which was just about complete on Thursday, and one of the signs from the former Ground Round site; another sign is new.

“We expect we’re going to find a lot of our regular customers,” Couture said. “As we get the word around, we expect to see more.”

The former restaurant in the bowling alley, Crossroads, was been completely remodeled and filled with new furniture to create the new establishment. Couture said he spent about $125,000 in renovations.

“The menu will have all the favorite stuff from the old Ground Round, plus added stuff,” said Bill Boardman, general manager for Sparetime Recreation.

“We’re really created the best of both worlds from the two places,” Boardman said.

He said sports fans will be pleased with the seven new flat-screen TVs featuring full-time sports.

Couture has owned the bowling alley for about 18 years and owns two other Sparetime Recreation sites in Waterville and Lewiston.

The Hallowell restaurant can seat 85; and an addition 150 people can be in the bowling alley.

Boardman said 24 people now work at Sparetime Recreation in Hallowell, about half of them in the new sports grill.

Another Ground Round Grill & Bar operates in Bangor.
Title: Re: Ground Round
Post by: ynkeesfn82 on December 07, 2010, 11:59:53 PM
Sports bars are popping up all over the place lately. It's interesting that Ground Round is experimenting with this as a new concept.
Title: Re: Ground Round
Post by: nysw3636 on March 15, 2011, 03:17:50 PM
I remember the mentioned Kingston,NY and Newburgh,NY locations. Just want to add the closed Poughkeepsie,NY location on RT.9 (aka South Road). which was not mentioned. It was a Longhorns for a short period of time after they closed in the early 1990's. It is currently a Coyote Grill.
Title: Re: Ground Round
Post by: buzz86us on September 16, 2012, 06:03:22 PM
is there any still operating these days?
Title: Re: Ground Round
Post by: bm10k on July 03, 2017, 07:10:07 PM
The Ground Round here in Fargo closed on Saturday
http://www.inforum.com/news/4291892-fargos-ground-round-restaurant-closing
Title: Re: Ground Round
Post by: buzz86us on July 03, 2017, 08:48:32 PM
I am confused is ground round still a franchise... or did the franchiser go out of business and the stores are still being operated? Last I heard they were originally owned by Howard Johnsons... I have personally never seen a Ground Round still in business.... although i heard there was one in Plattsburgh..
Title: Re: Ground Round
Post by: BillyGr on July 04, 2017, 10:12:38 AM
Quote from: buzz86us on July 03, 2017, 08:48:32 PM
I am confused is ground round still a franchise... or did the franchiser go out of business and the stores are still being operated? Last I heard they were originally owned by Howard Johnsons... I have personally never seen a Ground Round still in business.... although i heard there was one in Plattsburgh..

They had been made into a separate company from Howard Johnsons at some point. 

Then that company went bankrupt and closed their company owned locations, but the remaining franchisees organized and kept running (sort of similar to how Howard Johnsons did with the FAI - Franchise Associates years ago) what still exists today (Called Independent Owners Cooperative LLC, and based in Freeport, Maine).
According to their site, they are currently offering new franchises to open additional locations.
Title: Re: Ground Round
Post by: retailisking on July 04, 2017, 06:53:41 PM
A Ground Round franchise recently opened in Rutland, VT; it's (obviously) a converted Ponderosa
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-quEzPIykpXc/WRnzdOC0LhI/AAAAAAAAABw/xaxGtHkHSDw50AOONAGHEXdlltGfa88DQCLIB/s449-k-no/)
Title: Re: Ground Round
Post by: TheFugitive on July 05, 2017, 09:06:24 AM
There are no Ground Round restaurants operating in the Pittsburgh area that I know of.
There used to be 3:

- The corner of US 19 and Gilkeson Rd. in Mount Lebanon.  The manager of this location
at one time was former Pittsburgh Penguins player Duane Rupp.  It was torn down and a
Verizon store + Levin Mattress now occupy the site.

- At the corner of Green Tree and Cochran Roads in Scott Township.  Now an NTB location.

- Inside Century III Mall in West Mifflin.  The space was later taken over by an independent
tavern owner, but is now vacant (like pretty much everything else in this mall).
Title: Re: Ground Round
Post by: buzz86us on July 06, 2017, 01:45:28 PM
wow so now it is basically the Red Carpet Inn of restaurants..
Title: Re: Ground Round
Post by: Zayre88 on July 07, 2017, 05:49:06 AM
Quote from: retailisking on July 04, 2017, 06:53:41 PM
A Ground Round franchise recently opened in Rutland, VT; it's (obviously) a converted Ponderosa


Nicely done and I like the logo!
Title: Re: Ground Round
Post by: jason83080 on August 08, 2017, 12:26:39 AM
We had one open up in the old Bennigan's by Midway Mall (Elyria, OH) when the chain went under. As it turns out, the owner of Ground Round must have only paid one month of rent, because he wound up being locked out of the building, and there were (right after it closed) SEVERAL letters from vendors of all kinds demanding their equipment back, or to be paid for said equipment. I think one of the letters - from mall management - mentioned *18 months* of back rent that was due. Who lets someone keep a business going for 18 months without being paid rent and THEN decides to act on it?

Now, that building - like several others that dot the mall border on West River Rd - is sitting vacant.
Title: Re: Ground Round
Post by: retailisking on March 29, 2018, 02:37:18 AM
The Saco, Maine Ground Round Sports Grille closed Monday night after corporate decided not to renew the lease
(https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/1653313_520848681427816_7531265211234547566_n.jpg?oh=fb993496aaa145f423e91e3dc195dc8b&oe=5B74AE22)
http://wcyy.com/the-ground-round-location-in-saco-suddenly-shuts-down/
Title: Re: Ground Round
Post by: retailisking on April 10, 2018, 06:31:44 PM
The site of the former Ground Round in Saco got a new tenant quickly
https://www.pressherald.com/2018/04/09/otto-to-open-seventh-maine-location/
Title: Re: Ground Round
Post by: Zayre88 on April 03, 2024, 07:46:29 PM
Well Ground Round is almost defunct. Bangor Maine's locations has closed lately. Augusta has dropped the Ground Round name.

Ground Round'S website no longer exists.

There could be only 3 locations left in ND and Ohio.
Title: Re: Ground Round
Post by: BillyGr on April 04, 2024, 06:34:25 PM
Quote from: Zayre88 on April 03, 2024, 07:46:29 PMWell Ground Round is almost defunct. Bangor Maine's locations has closed lately. Augusta has dropped the Ground Round name.

Ground Round'S website no longer exists.

There could be only 3 locations left in ND and Ohio.

Yes, the Bismark & Minot ND restaurants are still operational, their site (mygroundround.com) works and the associated Facebook page has a post from 5 hours ago (on 4/4).

Sad to hear of the one in Bangor, since that was kind of a spot for the (original) company, being also the last Howard Johnson lodging and restaurant to exist a few years back before the restaurant closed and then having the subsidiary spin off Ground Round still right down the street as well, long beyond when many places had neither restaurant, and maybe not even a hotel left.