There was a Howard Johnson’s in my hometown of Yonkers, NY.
We went there often after a night of just cruising around town, burning up about three dollars worth of gas.
My friend would always get the tuna melt.
I never had one. I wish I did.
He’s gone, the HOJO’s is gone, and I’ll have to go to Lake George, NY in order to get one.
After the penultimate restaurant closes on September 6th, in Bangor, Maine, the Lake George franchise will be the last one standing. Luckily they are going strong.
Nothing says Lake George like a Howard Johnson’s Restaurant.
Then, in Lake George.
Now.
HT/ illustr8r
I believe some of the Motor Lodges are still around in California aren’t they?
Thought the last one might be in Rock Ridge…….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd-Qhspihlc
NRBQ – Howard Johnson’s Got His HoJo Workin’
Caught them in concert on the early 90’s at a Ho-Jo somewhere in Conn, don’t remember much.
“Dolfer Johnson’s right!” lol
The one I deeply miss is Lums. Oh, for an Ollieburger, or their clam strips and fries! What once was a nationwide chain is down to a single unit in Bellevue, Nebraska, but sadly the word is that it does not serve the original menu.
Is that a Howard Johnson’s or a Church of Scientology?
😉
Walked out of one in 1972 after lousy service. Never ate in one again.
Sent me on a memory hole spin. There was a place my parents would bring me to as a kid across from the Big Boy. I recalled it was a HoJo when I saw this, but no it was a Phil Johnson’s.
Look at all these wonderful places that are no more! I recall many of them having eaten there or it was a known landmark. I love these old places.
http://www.craigslostchicago.com/lost-eateries.php
ChiGuy, My dad’s business was in Niles, Lums was always a go to for lunch. You’re right, the clam strips were amazing!
I waitressed at a Ho Jo’s in NH. Made great money.
In Maine, as a kid, we always stopped for ice cream on the way home from the beach at the Ho Jo’s in South Portland. The restaurant is a Chicago Dogs but the hotel is still Howard Johnson’s.
I miss them.
I miss A & W too.
There are still remnants of HoJo nearby, the orange roofs are gone. The scummy motel on Jefferson St in Joliet has always peaked my interest, now I know why it was originally a HoJo. It still retains the classic look.
http://www.highwayhost.org/Stategateways/illinois.html
Do Stuckey’s still exist?
Our family would go to both. One summer Lake George vacation had all five of us kids with Mom and Dad sitting against the window. I had a view of the the drive-in across the street (where the water park is now, I think.) Somewhere in the middle of dinner the drive in started playing a nudist film and this young 12 year old was mesmerized. When she started on the trampoline, my Mom noticed my eyes going up and down. We switched seats. Split and fried hot dogs on those rectangular buns. Hmmm.
Shakey’s Pizza is down to one left in Washington I think
Oops, two. One ion Renton one in Pasco
I remember Howard Johnson’s on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in the early ’60’s.
I ate at the original Shakey’s in Sacramento on J Street.
I worked at a Sambo’s when I was a kid.
Musta been where I learned to be a racist.
@beachmom: Have you checked to see if there might be an A&W near you?
http://www.awrestaurants.com/
🙂
Weren’t a lot of these connected to a Howard Johnson’s motel? I ask because I remember staying at a converted motel that use to be Howard Johnson’s in CT and there was still an operating Ho Jo’s restaurant right across the parking lot.
Based on what I’m seeing, it’s closed or been converted to something else now.
I remember the motel had some kind of strange phone system that must have at one time been connected to a central switch board. I guess when they updated the phone system they had to leave the old phones and lines in place, even if they didn’t work anymore.
Does anuone remember the white chocolate lollypops with monster face graphics by the cash register? For a kid that read FAMOUS MONSTERS, they were irresistible.
Now that HoJo’s is gone, can we drop LoFo, JaLo, SoDo, MoJo, and MoFo, too?
How it all began… interesting read. 🙂
https://www.amazon.com/History-Howard-Johnsons-Massachusetts-Fountain/dp/1609494288
I’m assuming now that when I was little and ordered “a HoJo” to drink it was probably RC Cola, Pepsi or a Coke- but it was special every time.
*sigh*
@Dr. Tar
Many of them did have a motel attached. The one in my hometown had an indoor pool where you could have a birthday party.
When we were kids, my parents took us there overnight for a birthday party and to use the pool while work was being done at our home.
Gosh. Now no one is gonna get a few jokes in Blazing Saddles.
Stayed at the one in Bangor a couple of years ago.
Went in to have a drink at the lounge and was just settling in when I started looking around.
Three Amazon sized women walked in and started dancing together.
Trannies, gays, and lbjqtmsnbcs were everywhere.
Pissed me off to have to leave a $9 double whiskey, but I had no choice as there were two very strange looking ?dudes? stalking me.
I always called it “Howard’s Johnson.”