Howard Johnson's Restaurants

[BillyGr]

I'm calling this the LaQuinta Johnson's (since the hotel is currently La Quinta).

First two shots are the gate lodge, from the side and front.
Third is the restaurant, now a hooters.
Forth is the (former) pool.
Last is a room door (another old HoJo feature seems to be the very tall doors).

[BillyGr]

The hotel portion of this property is still a HoJo.

First 3 photos are the gate lodge, 1st and 3rd from almost the same spot on different days, the second from the opposite (restaurant) side.

Next is a picture in the hallway - the building is built on a bit of a slope, the front portion having 3 floors (the bottom is meeting rooms) and the back 2 stories.  Therefore, in the middle the floors meet at about a 1/2 story difference, which is why the grating is there (so no one falls off).  I am on the 1st floor of the rear part, and you see the lower room floor of the front part on the bottom, the upper room floor on the top.  To get from where I am to either floor of the front is a 1/2 flight, to get to the 2nd floor of the rear part is a full flight, to get to the meeting rooms is a flight and 1/2.

The little sign is from the pool area, showing onee of the HoJo logos.

The next picture of the outside shows better the level differences.

The next shot, which shows the pool also shows the slope to the property and building 3 (buildings  1&3 are older, the connecting portion, which is all the suites, is newer).

The two doors show the difference, the left being an older door in building 1, the right a newer door in the suites section.

Last is the restaurant, which is now a Friendly's - they have converted the right end to a take out area, all seating is from the middle to the left.  Inside didn't have much (if any) old stuff.

[Zayre88]

Former Hojo restaurant in Falmouth Maine.  Now Foreside Tavern & Side Bar.

[Zayre88]

More Falmouth, the original Hojo pylon sign is used by the Foreside Tavern...

[HoJofan206]

Here is the Henderson KY location again. It recently recieved an "update".  I admit, it does look better than it had.  Looks like it will be around for a bit longer.  :-)

[HoJofan206]

Henderson KY former HoJo eatery (no lodge attached)

[HoJofan206]

Side view from Shell station

[HoJofan206]

The HoJo "planter" had been kept and used all the way until the summer of 2006, but during the new update it was removed from the original roadside sign.

[HoJofan206]

Picture taken looking into the former bar side of the restaurant...(still being used as a bar)

[HoJofan206]

The bar often helped boost profits at most HoJo locations.

[HoJofan206]

The back door or outside entrance to the bar (2006)

[HoJofan206]

Looking in the windows where the HoJo diary counter would have been.  :no:

[HoJofan206]

One final pic of Henderson KY in 2006

[HoJofan206]

It would be really neat that when (if) the new 2007 Hojo's that are suppose to open were built in the nostalgic Nims design.  Kinda like Ford did with the Mustang!!  Lets all hope.
I really do hope they can bring the name back to popularity.  So many younger people have no idea what the Hojo name once meant in reference to food.  They only know it as a hotel chain. :no:

[HoJofan206]

Key Largo Florida

[HoJofan206]

This location may or may not continue to excist.

[HoJofan206]

One of the unique features of the Howard Johnson restaurants was the cathederal style ceiling.

[shakethis1234]

are they still open

[HoJofan206]

No, non of the pics posted are of locations that are still in operation.  As of right now (Nov 2006) I think there are only 4 Howard Johnson's restraurants left in the entire country.

[mikey7290]

Originally posted by HoJofan206
No, non of the pics posted are of locations that are still in operation.  As of right now (Nov 2006) I think there are only 4 Howard Johnson's restraurants left in the entire country.

The only Howard Johnson's that I can think of that was in my area was in Watertown, NY.  That closed down several years ago (in the late 1980's or early 1990's).  After that, the restaurant was remodeled and became a Perkins.  That didn't last too long and finally the building was demolished to make was for an Advance Auto Parts which occupies the site today.

[shakethis1234]

what happen to them why did they closed

[JimSawhill]

Originally posted by shakethis1234
what happen to them why did they closed

shakethis:

     What happened? It happens to all companies who get bought by people who are NOT the founders -- they simply let the chain  get used as a cash cow -- and then when it was not profitable -- because they didn't update it -- it was sold to a Hotel company now HOJo is know more for lodging then for ice cream.

JimS

[Zayre88]

Originally posted by 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...

I finally went there again but this time, inside.  Sorry to report that everything is gone.  The entire restaurant has a Friendly's theme and a new layout, from floor tiles, booths, lighting, dairy bar and the rest.  The building looks in great shape. The location is Augusta, ME.

[JimSawhill]

Zayre88:

     Where was that ex HoJo which is now a Friendly's?

JimS

[HoJofan206]

It is nice to see the location is being kept up.  So many HoJo's sit in ruins across the country just waiting to be torn down.  :(

[Zayre88]

Originally posted by amesman
I know I'm not Zayre88, but I can tell you anyway..hehe. It's in Portland, Maine near the Maine Mall.

I edited my post to show the adress, this location is Augusta ME on Western avenue.  There was another restaurant but with a lodge elsewhere in Augusta: (now Holiday Inn & Ground Round).

[HoJofan206]

These roadside signs once stretched from Maine to Florida.  Now there are only four restaurants left in the entire country.

[HoJofan206]

Former Darien Connecticut location.

[HoJofan206]

Darrien

[HoJofan206]

Sadly, this location was closed in November 2000.  :no: