Shoney's

[HoJofan206]

It is very sad, but Shoney's is following in the footsteps of the Howard Johnson restaurants.  You see so many former building sites, most of which are sitting empty, along the exit ramps of major highways, and in the middle of cities alike.
They kinda sorta had the same type of clientele as a HoJo would.  We no longer have any here in Evansville.  The one in Henderson KY is still open.

[store215]

Ate at one on a car trip to Florida---was somewhere in the Carolinas. The whole place was kind of dated and the food was only so-so. The people eating in there looked kind of scary too.

[HoJofan206]

Shoney's also had a chain off Inn's that used to be located near the interstate Shoney's restaurants.  Most of them are gone now/changed names.

[LazarusFan]

Shoney's is getting destoried by Bob Evans ever expanding territory into the Southeast.  They left the Columbus area in the 1980's and there isn't really one in Ohio anymore.  I didn't really care for them.

[BillyGr]

There are two left in Ohio per their website - no idea where in relation to Columbus, though.

Locations:
Dover
Shoney's 329973 - 881 Commercial Pkwy Dover, Ohio 44622
(330) 343-6043
   
Marietta
Shoney's 1456  - 44 Acme Street- Marietta, Ohio 45750
(740) 374-6834

[HoJofan206]

I was just vacationing in West Virginia and that state has TONS of Shoney's locations.  I dont think any of them went out of business, they were all just picked up and moved to West Virginia.  :P

[will]

We used to have one here in town I ate there once. Then it went out and it was remodeled into an Outback Steakhouse.

[d_fife]

Originally posted by will
We used to have one here in town I ate there once. Then it went out and it was remodeled into an Outback Steakhouse.

I ate at a Shoney's in LAncaster Pennsylvania 11 years ago.

[tokensafari]

The only 2 things keep Shoney's itself as a whole is Captain D's and its salad bars. We have an abundance of 'em around here! With one right next to Golden Corral. It has held its own over the past couple of years and has managed to keep the doors open. Older people can't resist the place

[HoJofan206]

Here is a shot of one of the former Shooney's sights here in Evansville.  They all went out of business around here in the late 1990's.

[HoJofan206]

It sat empty for several years before becoming a local Chineese Buffet

[HoJofan206]

A defunct Shoney's located in downtown Nashville TN

[HoJofan206]

Here is a clear view of the label scar.

[HoJofan206]

A shot of the roadside sign that all Shoney's were known for having, minus the Shoney's part.

[d_fife]

I saw a shooney's when I was in lancaster pennsylvania 12 yeras ago. There has never been any in new england, travel listings said of one in montpielier vermont and it was not there when I wnet there.

[HoJofan206]

Shoney's is quitely going the way of Howard Johnson's and Jerry's restaurants.  I did see several of them last summer when vacationing in West Virginia.

[d_fife]

Originally posted by HoJofan206
Shoney's is quitely going the way of Howard Johnson's and Jerry's restaurants.  I did see several of them last summer when vacationing in West Virginia.

what happened to shoney's. I thought they were a good restuasrant when I ate at one in lancaster pa

[HoJofan206]

Nothing is "wrong" with Shoney's, just as nothing is wrong with other similar restaurants as Freindly's or Howard Johnson's.  What is "wrong" is the fact that the sit down/family style restaurants are dying off because people are more into fast/drive thru and themed restaurants such as Hooters, TGIF's, and the such.  :no:

[HoJofan206]

Henderson KY

[HoJofan206]

Henderson KY

[HoJofan206]

Henderson KY, giant roadside sign.

[HoJofan206]

Former Shoney's in Evansville IN

[HoJofan206]

Giant roadside sign being re-used at Evansville IN location

[tokensafari]

Yes, sadly there aren't too many left. Selling Captain D's off and closing stores, not looking too good. One was closed not too long ago on 5th Avenue in downtown Huntington, WV. It sat empty for a few months and was demolished. It was right next to Captain D's, but was built long before Captain D's. Now something else is taking it's place. Not sure what, but i will be finding out, i am sure of it.

[pubdog]

Here's a pic of a former Shoney's in Silver Spring (Hillandale) Maryland.  It's just off the Capital Beltway, exit 28, New Hampshire Ave North.  It's been closed for a number of years.  The latest plan is to demolish it and replace it with a five-story office building (see http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/council/zah/pdf/reports/duffieg826.pdf)

EDIT - Picture size too big. Please make it lower than 640X480. Thanks!

[HoJofan206]

Strange find:  Looks like Shoney's used to be affiliated with the "Big Boy" logo.  Does anyone have any info on this?

[BillyGr]

Originally posted by HoJofan206
Strange find:  Looks like Shoney's used to be affiliated with the "Big Boy" logo.  Does anyone have any info on this?

Yes, Shoney's was originally a Big Boy franchisee - many Big Boy restaurants were - each "area' having a franchisee who used his own name with the Big Boy (Bob's (named after Bob Wian, who created the idea of the Big Boy) being the original in CA, Frisch in the midwest, Shoney's in the South, etc. etc.).

At some point, the Shoney's owner (Schoenbaum) wanted to expand beyond his area, and had to drop the Big Boy name in order to do so, so he changed to just using Shoney's.

Or something like that.

[HoJofan206]

Thanks for the info!  I did not know that!

[amesman]

Originally posted by BillyGr

Originally posted by HoJofan206
Strange find:  Looks like Shoney's used to be affiliated with the "Big Boy" logo.  Does anyone have any info on this?

Yes, Shoney's was originally a Big Boy franchisee - many Big Boy restaurants were - each "area' having a franchisee who used his own name with the Big Boy (Bob's (named after Bob Wian, who created the idea of the Big Boy) being the original in CA, Frisch in the midwest, Shoney's in the South, etc. etc.).

At some point, the Shoney's owner (Schoenbaum) wanted to expand beyond his area, and had to drop the Big Boy name in order to do so, so he changed to just using Shoney's.

Or something like that.

On an interesting note, there are some Bob's Big Boy restuarants on the New York State Thruway. Is this in relation to the original? I wouldn't doubt it, but it's a good question to ponder.

[BillyGr]

Originally posted by amesman
On an interesting note, there are some Bob's Big Boy restuarants on the New York State Thruway. Is this in relation to the original? I wouldn't doubt it, but it's a good question to ponder.

I think (but not sure) that Host-Marriott either bought out Bob's or got the rights to use the name.

I'm not sure if they use it elsewhere in other areas besides NY (and they are supposed to be closing the Big Boy's here at some point, at least one has already (can't remember which one at the moment) - of course they aren't open 1/2 the time anyhow, so ...).