Howard Johnson's Restaurants

[HoJofan206]

Howard Johnson's has been dying a slow death since it was originally sold to the Imperial Group back in 1980.  Another tragic blow came in the second company sale to Mariott back in 1985.  It has been all downhill since.  FAI did very little to help the restaurant name back in 1990 (when formed). :mad:

[HoJofan206]

The only mentionable thing FAI did while it excisted was to update one original nims style restaurant and introduce the "arch" to about 5 or 6 locations total.  Not much worth speaking of. :mad:

[HoJofan206]

Simple Simon and the Pie Man.  Does anyone know specifically what they meant to the HoJo food chain?

[amesman]

Well, in the 1940's during World War 2, Hojo's almost died as a chain. There were only 12 restaurants left at the start of World War 2.  So, Howard D. Johnson started sending food over to the soldiers(a similar thing was done with the Stuckey's chain), and he also started to bake pies to sell at the remaining 12 restaurants to generate more revenue. The central commissary in Brockton, Mass(now owned by Fairfeild Farm Kitchens) supplied all the food for the soldiers overseas, so eventually there was enough money generated, to restart the company. By the end of the war, the pie baking business became profitable enough, so the company stuck with it. Joesph Alcott noticed this, and developed the Simple Simon and the Pieman logo(which of course is from the fairytale), to reflect on the near end of Hojo's, and it ressurection by pie making. I believe Alcott reamined with the Hojo company and eventually created the Lamplighter logo for the motor lodges in the late 50's.

[HoJofan206]

Wow!, that was a lot of cool info.  Did you used to work at a Howard Johnson's?

[amesman]

No, haha. I'm only 16. I've gotten this info through my own research, and help from my friend Rich(who owns www.orangeroof.org), and other Hojo lovers.

[Caldor1999]

Originally posted by amesman
No, haha. I'm only 16. I've gotten this info through my own research, and help from my friend Rich(who owns www.orangeroof.org), and other Hojo lovers.

with all teh info u know u should run the cain of restrunts heheh :)

[amesman]

I can tell you anything you want to know(within reason..haha) :D

[amesman]

Not anytime soon. There is a guy who wants to open a new Howard Johnson Plaza Hoitel in Cooperstown, New York, and wants to get the rights to the Hojo Ice Cream from The Ice Cream Club in Florida(if Cendant will allow him to). You can thank Rich Kummerlowe for that info. I'm just passing it along, because you asked..hehe.

Any other ?'s :D

[HoJofan206]

If someone spent the proper time and energy, I think the HoJo chain could make a go of it.  It couldnt come back exactly as it was in its booming days, but someone could adjust things just a bit and make a good go of it.  (In my opinion).  So much nastalgia there just going to waste. :no:

[amesman]

If there was a greedy(but reasonable and kind) business man, who sued Cendant for billions of dollars, and was up for the cause, we could have the Hojo chain back to it original self. You know pretty well that Cendant doesn't care. They're just sucking a once proud name dry.

[Zayre88]

A new picture of the Friendly's / Former Hojo restaurant in Augusta, Maine.

There was another Hojo restaurant with lodge elsewhere in town.  This one was alone near the Kmart plaza.

[HoJofan206]

Great picture of the Augusta location, and nice to see the building has been well kept and update, but still has the HoJo look to it.

[amesman]

Still uses the 1960's roof logo sign frame as well. Is there any way you could get interior pics? I'm curious to see if the original landmark supply furniture is in there, and is they still use the dairy bar for fountain service...

[HoJofan206]

Is the second Augusta location still in excistance?  If so, can you get a pic of the gate lodge and the restaurant to post with the other great pic you have?  :huh:

[Zayre88]

Originally posted by HoJofan206
Is the second Augusta location still in excistance?  If so, can you get a pic of the gate lodge and the restaurant to post with the other great pic you have?  :huh:

The gate lodge is gone but the Hotel still has the Hojo style outside.  They removed the balconies and expanded the rooms though.

The restaurant has been turned into a Ground Round but the building has been totally boxed.  A small part of the original Mansard style is still showing.  It's featured at autoage.com but i have sent new pictures for the site.

[HoJofan206]

Those must be some pretty good sized rooms if they were expanded out to the extent of the former balconies.

[HoJofan206]

I saw an original roadside HoJo sign "planter" in Henderson Ky today!  From at least the early 1950's. :o

[amesman]

A planter was used for the base of the Howard Johnson's trapezoid signs..

[amesman]

Here's the old Amsterdam, New York location. It was a stand alone restaurant ay Exit 27 off the NY Thruway.

[amesman]

It was coverted into a diner after its Hojo use. It's now abandoned..

[HoJofan206]

The Amsterdam NY location opened during the last ditched effort to open Howard Johnson Restaurants in 1979/1980.  
If I am correct, I think the restaurant lost its HOJO name in or around 1986.  It now sits abandoned awaiting certain demolition. :(

[amesman]

you are correct, Hojofan! The orange roof was painted enviornmental brown by the Hojo company, then after the company was sold to Marriott in 1985, this location closed. Since many old Hojo's in the area have become Denny's(In Albany: East Greenbush(U.S 4 at I-90), and Clifton Park(Old Route 146 - Exit 9W off I-87), and in Herkimer), tyhis would be a fitting location for a Dennys.

[HoJofan206]

Thanks for posting the Mansard era HoJo sight.  Most people do not realize that there were at least 4 different "stages" of HoJo building architecture.

1930-1940's  Colonial
1950's Nims
1960's T-Style
1970's-1980 Mansard

I dont think any new HoJo eateries opened after 1980.  But I am not certain.

[amesman]

There were Hojos restaurants opened until 1982, at the latest. The company simply ran out of places to put them. Plus, they never went into the fast food industry, like they were going to with the Hojo Junction concept.

Also, there are some inaccuracies to your list. Not to be critical, but I just want to point out the mistakes to you, with my own list. :)

Colonial(Phase 1) - 1930's to mid 1950's
Nims (Phase 2) - mid 50's to mid 60's
Concept 65/"T" shape(Phase 3 +3A(shorter roof on later T shape restaurants)) - 1965 to 1970
Mansard(Phase 4) - 1970 to 1982

[HoJofan206]

I dont mind you correcting me.  I like to be corrected so that I am passing on accurate info!  :yup:

[amesman]

ok, cool. hehe

[HoJofan206]

It is amazing to think that HoJo eateries were being opened for well over 50 years! :yup:

[amesman]

Actually, Howard Johnson's has been in this world for 80 years. 1925 - 2005

[HoJofan206]

I meant that they actually opened new eateries for over 50 years.  1930's to 1982. :yup: