Ground Round

Started by amesman, May 11, 2005, 04:53:15 PM

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amesman

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.

Caldor1999

ive herd of them but i nevre seen one
Caldor Forever!


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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:

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:

76&AmesfanmanBBTB

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

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.

76&AmesfanmanBBTB

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:

BillyGr

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.

store215

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.

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.

Caldor1999

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:
Caldor Forever!


Caldor Ames Bradlees Jamesway Venture Woolwrth Montgomery Ward Service Merchandise Pergament Grand Union Macys Bloomingdales JC Penny Nordstrom Lord & Taylor Kohls Filene's Filene's Basment CVS H&M  Hot Topic staples Taregt Kmart Best Buy Borders Shop Rite Waldbaums Silo Nobody Beats The Wiz Lechmere Jefferson Ward Barkers Zayer Woolco Woolworth A&P Wendys Burger King Sub Way Henchgers Bulders Squre Lowes Clover Kaffmans Dillards Toy Works KB Toys Toys R Us Kids R Us Babies R Us Cost Co BJ's Amarican Egael Friendleys Ruby Tusday Chrismas Tree Shops Fun Co Land Discovery Zone Pharmore Filenes Basment TJ Maxx Home Goods Marshles Jordan Marsh Media Play Office Max Offc Depot Staples Rich's  JM Feilds Electric AVE & More Stop & Shop Price Chopper Sage & allen Ann & Hope Neman Marcus Pizza Hut Olive Gardan  Fortan Off Bed Bath & Beyond Spencers Foleys May C.O. Kaffmans Robson May Sakes Fith Ave Applebees KFC  Barns & Noble Big Lots ACE True Value  Sears Best Models Basken Robens Carvel TCBY Roy Rogers Starbucks Ben & Jerys CVS Ride Aid Strawbrigs Tower Records Pets Mart Annie Sez Party City Strawberries Dress barn Fashon Bug Huffman Koos Franks Nursey Banna Republic Tanno Turn Style TGY Two Guys Taco Bell Jo Ann Linenes & Things Tempo Sam Goody Syems  Howard Johnsons HQ Alexzanders Ikea Shaws Bobs Discount AC More Curit City Korvetties Gap Crate & Barrle Mrs Greens Chessecake Factory

store215

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

amesman

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).

HoJofan206

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:

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 :(

76&AmesfanmanBBTB

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:

HoJofan206

It appears to me that Howard Johnson (the son) did nothing but bleed the assets of the company dry.  :mad:

amesman

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..

Anonymous

Enfield, Manchester and Glastonbury CT have all closed in the past 3 years..

Manchester and Glastonbury are now both 99 Resturants..

HoJofan206

What is a "99 Restaurant"? :huh:

HoJofan206

Thanks for posting that pic!  Had never heard of one of those restaurants before!

76&AmesfanmanBBTB

QuoteOriginally posted by HoJofan206
Thanks for posting that pic!  Had never heard of one of those restaurants before!

your welcome:yup:

storehistoryguy

They closed and knocked down my Ground Round just last summer. It was in Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania. It opened around the late 1970's.



storehistoryguy


Zayre88

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.

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.
"Through the millennia, the Time Lords of Gallifrey led a life of ordered calm, protected against all threats from lesser civilisations by their great power. But this was to change. Suddenly, and terribly, the Time Lords faced the most dangerous crisis in their long history..."--the Doctor

d_fife

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.

BillyGr

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).