Howard Johnson's Restaurants

[CTAmeshopper]

There once was a Howard Johnson in Mystic where The Equinox Diner is, it was still a Howard Johnson's all the way through the 90's and in the 2000's it changed to a Friendly's (I think) then briefly a Bickfords. 

[Zayre88]

Does sombody knows the meaning of what is on the front page of the Orangeroof website ?

http://www.highwayhost.org/Orangeroof/index.htm

From what I see at Hojoland, the Lake Placid location is for sale and might close:

http://hojoland.homestead.com/

[buzz86us]

I know of 2 former hojos in the local area. One is in Albany just on the way to the airport which is now a gas station but you can tell because it still has the roof. Another is in Queensbury but has been boarded up for as long as I can remember.

[Pikapower]

A lot of highway service stations/plazas were at one point HoJos! before other restaurants (IE Roy Rogers, McDonald's, Burger King, etc.) took HoJo's place in the 1980s.

[BillyGr]

And then there were THREE (again):

http://blog.timesunion.com/business/lake-george-howard-johnsons-to-reopen/61048/

A change from the usual HoJo reports!

[ynkeesfn82]

The Lake Placid, NY Howard Johnson's is closing.

http://www.wcax.com/story/28604389/lake-placid-hojos-to-close-its-doors

[retailisking]

I hear the Bangor, ME HoJo's is closing soon, too, which makes Lake George the last remaining Howard Johnson's Restaurant - and Lake George is apparently operating independently of a formal Howard Johnson franchise. I imagine Wyndham will eventually make them sign a franchise agreement or issue a C&D to force them to give up the HoJo brand.

[TheFugitive]

That makes the current score Isaly's 2, Howard Johnson's 1

[BillyGr]

That makes the current score Isaly's 2, Howard Johnson's 1

Which 2?  There is a bunch of info, but nothing that shows which ones are actually still there.

[TheFugitive]

Web searching shows one in Washington, Pennsylvania and one in the northern
suburbs of Pittsburgh.

In their heyday you'd come across one about every two miles here.

[Hudsons81]

Back in the day, there were a number of these across Michigan.

http://www.angelfire.com/mi4/forgottenmi/former/hojo.html

[BillyGr]

Web searching shows one in Washington, Pennsylvania and one in the northern
suburbs of Pittsburgh.

In their heyday you'd come across one about every two miles here.

So I've heard (not being in that area, but we did see the display at the museum in Pittsburgh several years ago, and the book that details the history as well). 
Sounds like they could have done better if they had adopted the convenience store model (we have the Stewart's chain here in NY, which also comes from a dairy background, and still makes it's own ice cream and dairy products sold through over 300 of it's own stores.  No deli, though (although they do have some sandwiches available).

[retailisking]

Cumberland Farms started as a dairy, too, though they got out of that business decades ago.

[retailisking]

The BDN confirms what I mentioned last week - the Bangor HoJo is likely to close this year
http://bangordailynews.com/2015/04/02/living/food/no-more-hojos-bangor-eatery-may-close-after-49-years/

[JimSawhill]

HoJofan206: Re: North Stonington,CT. That HoJo was the last HoJo built. It is a shrine.

[ynkeesfn82]

This was Howard Johnson's in Southington, CT. It opened in 1965. Later it was Bickford's, Gold Roc Diner2, Agavae Mexican Grill, and now TD Homer's Sports Bar. The Motel in the back was Howard Johnson's and Later Travel Lodge, Traveler's Inn, Red Carpet Inn, and as of 2009ish after a multi-million dollar renovation project The Days Inn.



Photo Credit: Vision Government Solutions.

[BillyGr]

The vacant former Howard Johnson's restaurant in East Greenbush, NY (Routes 9&20, later a Weathervane location for many years and then briefly a local Fisherman's Cove restaurant) has been demolished, according to a photo in today's Times Union newspaper.

The building is believed to have been built in the late 1930's (there is also a photo in front of the partially demolished building of a 92 year old woman who grew up just across the street when it was built and held a wedding reception there in 1946!).

It closed as Howard Johnsons sometime (at least I think) in the 1980's - there was a second newer location built (around 1978-79 from what I can find) on Route 4 near I-90 that closed around 1995. 
Many references seem to think that one replaced the other, however I remember being in this older location when it was still HoJo (though a later version with a larger menu than most HoJo and a salad bar, but still the things one things of as standard HoJo items) and based on being born in 1976 it would have had to be later than the suggested opening of the 2nd location.

It had then been a Weathervane for quite some time as well, plus the short local incarnation but was closed for close to a decade and beginning to deteriorate (if you see the TU photos that roof on the right is not due to demolition, just many years of lack of upkeep).

http://www.timesunion.com/tuplus-business/article/Weathervane-restaurant-demolished-in-East-7957166.php

[buzz86us]

This HoJo's sits off of NYS Thruway Exit 23 on Route 9W.

It has been vacant for several years, after having a combination of several things over the previous 5-10 years (a bagel place, pizza place, bar, and more, often 2 or 3 things at a time).

This one closed at the same time the East Greenbush (by I-90) and Latham (by the Northway) did - apparently all owned by one franchisee.  The second photo shows the sign (noww covered by the hotel next door which WAS a HoJo also - has had about 3 different names in the last few years).  While the frame (and open 24 Hrs) are original, the sign under the cover is not, the plates having been replaced with a plate divided into sections (with lines) to accommodate the several things using the restaurant building at one time.

Part of the hotel also sits vacant (they refurbished the closer building(s), but not the farthest one).

I literally just drove by that today everything is closed up... did you notice the gas station on the corner of wolf road in Albany as you turn into the airport kinda looks like it could have been a howard johnson

[Chuck E. Cheese]

I've been to 2 former ones, Friendly's in Milford and another Diner in Stamford. Haven't been to an 'official' HJ's.

[BillyGr]

This HoJo's sits off of NYS Thruway Exit 23 on Route 9W.

It has been vacant for several years, after having a combination of several things over the previous 5-10 years (a bagel place, pizza place, bar, and more, often 2 or 3 things at a time).

This one closed at the same time the East Greenbush (by I-90) and Latham (by the Northway) did - apparently all owned by one franchisee.  The second photo shows the sign (noww covered by the hotel next door which WAS a HoJo also - has had about 3 different names in the last few years).  While the frame (and open 24 Hrs) are original, the sign under the cover is not, the plates having been replaced with a plate divided into sections (with lines) to accommodate the several things using the restaurant building at one time.

Part of the hotel also sits vacant (they refurbished the closer building(s), but not the farthest one).

I literally just drove by that today everything is closed up... did you notice the gas station on the corner of wolf road in Albany as you turn into the airport kinda looks like it could have been a howard johnson

Yeah, that hotel at Exit 23 closed a couple years back (after the restaurant building had been empty for some time).  They also, prior to closing demolished a couple of the further out buildings, leaving just the ones closest to the office area.

As to Wolf Road, I don't know of there being one there, but it could have been.  The couple that come to mind in the area are Central (just below Everett - later Ground Round now part of DePaula Chevrolet), Western (Stuyvesant Plaza in the corner, demolished & rebuilt when Creo opened there) and Latham (Rt 7 just off the SPUI, a hotel & restaurant both and still a hotel & restaurant but not HoJo connected).

[retailisking]

It's official - the Bangor, Maine HoJo will serve its last diners September 6
http://bangordailynews.com/2016/08/24/news/bangor/restaurant-lounge-at-bangor-howard-johnson-to-close/

[buzz86us]

This HoJo's sits off of NYS Thruway Exit 23 on Route 9W.

It has been vacant for several years, after having a combination of several things over the previous 5-10 years (a bagel place, pizza place, bar, and more, often 2 or 3 things at a time).

This one closed at the same time the East Greenbush (by I-90) and Latham (by the Northway) did - apparently all owned by one franchisee.  The second photo shows the sign (noww covered by the hotel next door which WAS a HoJo also - has had about 3 different names in the last few years).  While the frame (and open 24 Hrs) are original, the sign under the cover is not, the plates having been replaced with a plate divided into sections (with lines) to accommodate the several things using the restaurant building at one time.

Part of the hotel also sits vacant (they refurbished the closer building(s), but not the farthest one).

I literally just drove by that today everything is closed up... did you notice the gas station on the corner of wolf road in Albany as you turn into the airport kinda looks like it could have been a howard johnson

Yeah, that hotel at Exit 23 closed a couple years back (after the restaurant building had been empty for some time).  They also, prior to closing demolished a couple of the further out buildings, leaving just the ones closest to the office area.

As to Wolf Road, I don't know of there being one there, but it could have been.  The couple that come to mind in the area are Central (just below Everett - later Ground Round now part of DePaula Chevrolet), Western (Stuyvesant Plaza in the corner, demolished & rebuilt when Creo opened there) and Latham (Rt 7 just off the SPUI, a hotel & restaurant both and still a hotel & restaurant but not HoJo connected).

i'll take a pic of it next time I am in the area.. it looks like it could have been one with the design of the architecture.. would have made sense to have one there since it'd be a welcome sight to travelers just off the plane

[retailisking]

Kevin Coupe paid a visit to the last standing HoJo's; it wasn't pretty...
http://www.morningnewsbeat.com/News/Detail/50461/2016-10-06/

[busman_49]

The site of the last Howard Johnson's restaurant is up for sale:
http://www.seattletimes.com/business/site-of-last-howard-johnsons-restaurant-up-for-sale/

[retailisking]

The site of the last Howard Johnson's restaurant is up for sale

According to this story it's just been relisted with a new broker; the site has been on the block for 15 years. The restaurant is open limited days/hours in the winter but remains in operation and there are no plans to close.
http://poststar.com/news/local/howard-johnson-s-alive-and-well-says-operator/article_5691be0e-de88-5084-a6d2-061f7f02f52e.html

[busman_49]

The site of the last Howard Johnson's restaurant is up for sale

According to this story it's just been relisted with a new broker; the site has been on the block for 15 years. The restaurant is open limited days/hours in the winter but remains in operation and there are no plans to close.
http://poststar.com/news/local/howard-johnson-s-alive-and-well-says-operator/article_5691be0e-de88-5084-a6d2-061f7f02f52e.html

Thank you for sharing that!

[retailisking]

Thank you for sharing that!

You're welcome. Whenever I read a story from a newspaper 3,000 miles away from its origin I try to find a local angle - sometimes I hit pay dirt, as in this case.

[Bdubs]

The site of the last Howard Johnson's restaurant is up for sale

According to this story it's just been relisted with a new broker; the site has been on the block for 15 years. The restaurant is open limited days/hours in the winter but remains in operation and there are no plans to close.
http://poststar.com/news/local/howard-johnson-s-alive-and-well-says-operator/article_5691be0e-de88-5084-a6d2-061f7f02f52e.html

I'd switch real estate companies as well if they couldn't sell my property in 15 years!

[BillyGr]

I'd switch real estate companies as well if they couldn't sell my property in 15 years!

I'd guess it's one of those things - they list it at a high price, hoping someone will be willing to pay that much. 
If no one show up to buy, they just lease the existing building to someone and still make a decent amount while waiting.

[buzz86us]

This HoJo's sits off of NYS Thruway Exit 23 on Route 9W.

It has been vacant for several years, after having a combination of several things over the previous 5-10 years (a bagel place, pizza place, bar, and more, often 2 or 3 things at a time).

This one closed at the same time the East Greenbush (by I-90) and Latham (by the Northway) did - apparently all owned by one franchisee.  The second photo shows the sign (noww covered by the hotel next door which WAS a HoJo also - has had about 3 different names in the last few years).  While the frame (and open 24 Hrs) are original, the sign under the cover is not, the plates having been replaced with a plate divided into sections (with lines) to accommodate the several things using the restaurant building at one time.

Part of the hotel also sits vacant (they refurbished the closer building(s), but not the farthest one).

I literally just drove by that today everything is closed up... did you notice the gas station on the corner of wolf road in Albany as you turn into the airport kinda looks like it could have been a howard johnson

Yeah, that hotel at Exit 23 closed a couple years back (after the restaurant building had been empty for some time).  They also, prior to closing demolished a couple of the further out buildings, leaving just the ones closest to the office area.

As to Wolf Road, I don't know of there being one there, but it could have been.  The couple that come to mind in the area are Central (just below Everett - later Ground Round now part of DePaula Chevrolet), Western (Stuyvesant Plaza in the corner, demolished & rebuilt when Creo opened there) and Latham (Rt 7 just off the SPUI, a hotel & restaurant both and still a hotel & restaurant but not HoJo connected).

I'd buy that HoJo if i had the money seems like a waste if it gets demolished I think it could be useful to rent out for events just seems a shame that such a beautiful building sits abandoned..