Howard Johnson's Restaurants

[amesman]

I have a feeling the "last ever" Howard Johnson's restaurant will be Waterbury, Connecticut. Its lease expires in 2008.

[dooneyt63]

It has certainly been said more than once in this thread, but it is indeed hard to take in the fact that Howard Johnson went from being the U.S.'s leading public feeder to a group of 6 disparate locations with no real corporate support.  As Walter Mann said in his quotes in the recent AP article, too little vision and capital was invested in the company by the last series of owners.  After all, Denny's, IHOP, and others are still hanging on with the same basic concept...Friendly's still highlights their signature ice cream.  It has been a case of neglect.  So sad.  I worked there in the early Imperial Group days at the Sarasota (FL) North store across from the Sarasota-Bradenton Airport.  We had a couple of staffers that had been at the store since the 1950's...this was in 1987.  The stores were in a slight state of decline, but no one would have ever dreamed at the time that they would completely disappear.  I'm not sure how the Ground Round broke loose and survived...despite their recent bankruptcy and reorganization.  The Howard Johnson I worked in had been remodeled to the 1970's earth tone standards prevalent at the time, but still retained the basic shape and appearance of the classic Nims design.  The company was still quite exacting about china placement, underlining dishes with saucers, correct names for Howard Johnson's signature dishes and ice cream treats, etc.  The very Ho-Jo-ness of Howard Johnson was still quite evident.  We still had a good selection of Howard Johnson branded resale foods, ice cream, and candies, and almost all of our supplies came from the commissary and were exclusively made for or by the company.  Our signature Howard Johnson coffee blend at the time was a Chase & Sanborn blend.  Tuna was Heinz; sauerkraut for Reuben sandwiches was Silver Floss, dairy items usually came from the local milkman...but most things were Howard Johnson or Red Coach Grill labels.  We had started using Coca-Cola products on the fountain rather than the oft-ridiculed HoJo Cola.  Our root beer and orange drink were still exclusive Howard Johnson blends.  With today's consumer's love of high butterfat exclusive ice creams, it seems bizarre that no one has stepped forward to at least save the ice cream operation, retail, ice cream parlor, or otherwise.  What an iconic brand name!  After all, Howard Deering Johnson was doing the high butterfat ice cream before Haagen-Dazs was even dreamed about.  I could go on for days about Howard Johnson.  Feel free to ask me any questions, especially about the restaurants.  I may be out of pocket for a few days as Hurricane Dennis is bearing down on the general region of my home in Destin, FL but I promise to get back with an answer.

[amesman]

Wow man, you know alot of stuff..heh. I myself, am learning, and already know about the company, and its rise and unfortunate fall. I'd love to talk to you about this more! You can email me at jet101988@aol.com or IM me at HudsonValleyJack, or you can continue to talk to me on here.

[HoJofan206]

I remember stopping at several Howard Johnson locations when we were traveling when I was a kid.  I am now 31 and it is sad to think that the current generation of kids have no idea of what the Howard Johnson's name used to mean.

[amesman]

Originally posted by HoJofan206
I remember stopping at several Howard Johnson locations when we were traveling when I was a kid.  I am now 31 and it is sad to think that the current generation of kids have no idea of what the Howard Johnson's name used to mean.

I am glad I got interested in Howard Johnson's when I did, but it is unfortunate that I wasn't into it earlier in life. I remember passing by the Albany - Thruway location when I came back from trips to Albany, as a little kid(like 3 or 4), and seeing the roof logo sign out front. The story of Howard Johnson's is a sad story, towards the end. Someone needs to make a happy ending for it.

[HoJofan206]

Extremely unlikely, but it would be cool if someone would bring the Howard Johnson Restaurant chain back to life just as someone did to Dairy Queen several years back.  Who could be the savior? :huh:

[Caldor1999]

i first went to one back in 1991 i was only 3 so it was hard to remebmr

[amesman]

Well, as much as I want Howard Johnson's to come back to a happy and healthy life, I have to agree, that it probably wont happen. The chain is too far gone, and you can bet that Cendant's greedy minions won't give up the name without a fight. They'll continue to suck the life out of the once great hospitality chain like a bunch of ticks. :(

[HoJofan206]

I have seen some nice newly built Howard Johnson Hotel/Inns, but for the most part they are old Ramada's/Days Inn/Holiday converstions in a dirty dirty state.

[amesman]

Yeah, I've seen some of the newer hotels in the 2005 Directory. Pretty ugly if you ask me. I don't know how in God's name Cendant thought that "squaring off" the gate lodges were a good thing. Cendant made them ugly.  And, it was a joke removing the orange roofs on some of the old motor lodges, while they were still Hojo's. How can there be a Howard Johnson's WITHOUT and orange roof. Bangor, Maine had that fate. Both the restaurant and motor lodge have lost their orange roofs. NOTE: Bangor, Maine is the last Restaurant/Lodge complex to both have the HOJO name, in the World. This came after Lake Placid's motor lodge conversion to a Comfort Inn, and the closing of Peurto Rico's prototype restaurant.

[HoJofan206]

Does anyone know why the Peurto Rico location closed up?

[gshowman18]

People, I've said it before & I'll say it again.  Before this decade will come to an end, Howard Johnson's restaurants will be no more.  That one up in Asbury Park should have closed a long time ago.  Why are they still open?  The only people that want HoJo's back are 97-year old women with chronic arthritis who are busy writing their wills.  The younger generation doesn't care.  People need to realize that the USA is all about business & not about farmland.  The past is gone.  This is the future.

[HoJofan206]

Unfortunately you are probably right about Howard Johnson's being completely gone over the next few years.  And, those of us (yes some young people did/do like Howard Johnson's) who are discussing it, realize that, we are just stating how we would LIKE to see the company reborn.  We are failry certain it wouldnt happen but we just dont care for the cookie cutter restaurants that are "popular" today.  Besides, none of them have the great history as the Howard Johnson's empire once had.  It makes for a great story, but with a sad ending.  :no:

[gshowman18]

Originally posted by 76BraldorZayKamesfanBBTB
[

I guess you don't like elderly people hmph.
They're actually really nice people!!!!!!!

Whats wrong with people remembering their old past ?

YOU DON'T LIKE HOJO'S !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YOU DON'T CARE!!!!

AM I RIGHT OR AM I WRONG?

I'M 18 AND I DO CARE!!!!

Listen, I'm sure that the majority of people who are 25 years old or younger have never ate at a Howard Johnson's restaurant, let alone actually heard of a Howard Johnson's restaurant.  Look, you have to face reality.  Howard Johnson's is probably not gonna be saved.

Also, Hojofan, if Hojo's did come back (which I doubt), wouldn't they be a cookie cutter restaurant as well?

[Caldor1999]

bouth of u stop it this is BS posting to u guys wanna get baned... Just stop fighting

and gshowman18 i know your starting with people and our gonna get yourself band to and i have already metion this to the addmistroters so i'dd stop hrasion people before u get your self baned

and 76BraldorZayKamesfanBBTB u have already gotten band before and i dont wanan see that happen again if gshowman18 is bugging u just U2U one of the addmistators and they take care of it for u ok i did let them know though but its not your falt

[gshowman18]

Originally posted by Caldor1999
bouth of u stop it this is BS posting to u guys wanna get baned... Just stop fighting

and gshowman18 i know your starting with people and our gonna get yourself band to and i have already metion this to the addmistroters so i'dd stop hrasion people before u get your self baned

and 76BraldorZayKamesfanBBTB u have already gotten band before and i dont wanan see that happen again if gshowman18 is bugging u just U2U one of the addmistators and they take care of it for u ok i did let them know though but its not your falt

I'm not trying to start a fight with 76.  I was just posting my opinion about Hojo's.  I'm ending my feud with him & my bashings about him are over.  I'm sorry.

[Caldor1999]

Originally posted by gshowman18

Originally posted by Caldor1999
bouth of u stop it this is BS posting to u guys wanna get baned... Just stop fighting

and gshowman18 i know your starting with people and our gonna get yourself band to and i have already metion this to the addmistroters so i'dd stop hrasion people before u get your self baned

and 76BraldorZayKamesfanBBTB u have already gotten band before and i dont wanan see that happen again if gshowman18 is bugging u just U2U one of the addmistators and they take care of it for u ok i did let them know though but its not your falt

I'm not trying to start a fight with 76.  I was just posting my opinion about Hojo's.  I'm ending my feud with him & my bashings about him are over.  I'm sorry.

well thats good i just dont want to see eather of u guys get  band

[amesman]

Also, and I'm not trying to sound like Mr. Rogers here, but if you have an opinion about something, that's great! But, don't criticize others for their opinions. Also, I want Hojo's to come back to. And, I am under 25, and I've been to 4 Hojo restaurants(Springfield Vermont, Times Square, Lake George and Lake Placid), and I know the whole history of the company. Anything you want to ask, feel free. And, gshowman18, as long as the restaurant has a trademark orange roof, authentic food and ice cream, and the kudos to the Hojo heritage(like Wendy's has been doing), I'll be fine. Same goes for the motor lodges. It sickens me to no end, how Cendant thinks "improving" the motor lodges are a good plan, because, I'll tell you right now, they have no brains if they think fake walls and removal of the classic orange roof will make Howard Johnson's look better. People nowadays only think of Hojo's as "just another hotel". Well, you should've been around 20 to 30 years ago. You would've changed your opinion then.

[amesman]

Well to answer your questions, there are only 5 restaurants left. Also, its too hard to tell wether Cendant will give up the name or not. If they do, it will probably be after they suck the name dry. Also, there are only about 100 or so original properties left, along with 300 to 400 "new" locations. These "new" ones don't count though, because they now serve a name that is only refrenced as a place to "spend the night", and they don't strive to serve the quality that the old ones did.

Check the Newburgh, New York location, and you'll see how Cendant's minions ruined that motor lodge.

http://www.orangeroof.org/New%20York/Newburgh/newburgh1.html

[HoJofan206]

A few years back Cendant did in fact consider dropping the Howard Johnson's name from their list of Hotels but decided to keep it and have actually built some new HoJo Inn properties over the past 5 years.

[HoJofan206]

So sad to think the Times Square location is no more. :no::no:

[HoJofan206]

I read a story where a guy bought a bunch of the booths and other items from the Times Square location with the hopes of opening up another HoJo some day.

[amesman]

Yeah, I read that too, but it all depends on wether Cendant will let hm have the name..

[HoJofan206]

Does FAI not excist at all anymore?  Have all rights in reference to the restaurant usage of the name Howard Johnson's now revert back to Cendant?

[HoJofan206]

Does anyone know if the HoJo frozen foods are still being sold in grocery stores up north/east? :huh:

[Zayre88]

Originally posted by HoJofan206
Does anyone know if the HoJo frozen foods are still being sold in grocery stores up north/east? :huh:

I saw some Hojo frozen foods in a Shaw's and i think in a Stop & Shop too in New Hampshire.

[Caldor1999]

Originally posted by Zayre88

Originally posted by HoJofan206
Does anyone know if the HoJo frozen foods are still being sold in grocery stores up north/east? :huh:

I saw some Hojo frozen foods in a Shaw's and i think in a Stop & Sho too in New Hampshire.

yep my shop rite sels them too

[amesman]

Well, to answer your questions, FAI indeed no longer exists. The restaurants aren't owned by any company now. They're all out in the open to fend for themselves. Also, Cendant owns the name, and the rights to open new motor lodges/restaurants. Also, Cendant now has the rights for the frozen foods(evidence of this is on the Toastees and new Mac and Cheese boxes. There is a phone number for Hojo reservations(the original phone number too!!)).

Also, I've found Mac and Cheese at Hannaford, Price Chopper, and Shaw's. Also, I've found Toastees at Stop and Shop and Shaws. I have yet to find the clams, chicken croquettes, and ice cream.

[HoJofan206]

I know Cendant would have no interest in revamping the HoJo restaurants, but one cant help but to wonder why they dont sell the rights to someone to make the original butterfat HoJo ice creams.  This just seems like a sure win situation if it was marketed correctly.  What do you all think? :huh:

[amesman]

Actually, the Ice Cream Club out of Florida still owns the rights to the Hojo ice cream..but I'm not sure if they still make it. They're probably under pressure from Cendant..