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HOWARD JOHNSON'S (page 1) |
former Howard Johnson's (now Brass House Restaurant)
Waterbury, CT |
| the motor lodge |
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| the restaurant |
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Howard Johnson's started with a roadside ice cream stand in 1925 in MA. It grew into a restaurant and another restaurant was opened in 1929. By 1935, there were 25 Howard Johnson's roadside ice cream and sandwich stands in MA. Expansion continued down the Atlantic Coast in the late 1930s with over 100 locations extending to Florida. In 1954, Howard Johnson's opened its first Motor Lodge in Savannah, GA. By the late 1970's, the empire consisted of over 1,000 restaurants and more than 500 motor lodges. In the mid-1980s, the company dropped the "apostrophe-s" and became Howard Johnson.
Howard Johnson's decided to focus on its more profitable hotel business and there are now only 11 restaurants left. This Waterbury location is the only one left in CT. In 2007, the management was notified that it can no longer use the name and must remove all traces of its association with the chain. The Waterbury location opened in 1958 with the motor lodge opening in the early 1960s. The modern design was the work of Miami architect, Rufus Nims. Both structures were "environmentalized" in the 1970s - covered with wood panels and painted in earth tones. The restaurant is removing its original mirror with its list of ice creams. The Lamplighter weathervane will also be removed from the motor lodge. For more about the Waterbury location, see these websites: 1 and 2. For more about Howard Johnson's, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4.
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Crystal Inn
Neptune, NJ |
Mike's Famous
New Castle, DE |
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The Crystal Inn uses a nicely maintained former Howard Johnson's motor lodge "gatehouse" as its office. It still retains the original Lamplighter weathervane. There is no Howard Johnson's restaurant building on the property. For more, see their website.
Mike's Famous, a Harley-Davidson dealer, restaurant, and museum, opened in 1999. It was built on the site of a former Howard Johnson's from 1957. Mike's restored the HoJo's gatehouse and used it as a take-out food stand. It is now used for storage and as a staff office. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
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former Howard Johnson's
Asbury Park, NJ |
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This Asbury Park location opened in 1962. In the late 1980s, there were ten Howard Johnson's restaurants in NJ, but this is the only one left. This is mostly due to the fact that Asbury Park has been basically abandoned for years. In 2005, the interior was stripped of its original furnishings. In 2006, the restaurant reopened. However, by 2007, it was closed again and being renovated (bottom photo). The Howard Johnson's sign is gone and the building is being converted into the Salt Water Cafe. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
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Howard Johnson's (gone)
Springfield, VT |
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This Springfield restaurant was built in 1965. In 2003 when these photos were taken, it still retained its finned cupola with weathervane. There was also Simple Simon and the Pieman artwork near the entrance. The interior featured the original counter and stools, terrazzo floor, as well as the "World of 28 Flavors" glasswork. The adjacent former HoJo's motor lodge had been converted into a modern Holiday Inn. This HoJo's closed and was demolished in 2005. For more, see this website.
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Howard Johnson's (closed)
Afton, VA |
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The Afton Howard Johnson's was built in 1948. The building was updated in the 1960s, removing the original dormers and adding the cupola. Although it closed in 1998 and is still vacant, the building features the Lamplighter weathervane. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
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Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge & Restaurant (closed)
Harrisonburg, VA |
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The 1960s Harrisonburg Howard Johnson's restaurant and motor lodge are now closed. The motor lodge is owned by James Madison University which uses the rooms for student housing (aka Rockingham Hall). The restaurant, empty and stripped of its weathervane and signage, is still up for sale. The familiar orange roof has been painted white. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
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former Howard Johnson's
Albany, NY |
Howard Johnson's
Lake Placid, NY |
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In 2003, the 1960 Albany Howard Johnson's restaurant was closed and undergoing "renovations". The Lamplighter sign is now most likely gone. The hotel was updated and rebranded as a Ramada Inn. For more, see this website.
The Lake Placid Howard Johnson's opened in 1956 and is still in business. However, there is now only a trace of the orange roof and the sign has been updated. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
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Howard Johnson's
Lake George, NY |
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The Lake George Howard Johnson's is one of the handful of survivors. It opened in 1953 and was the last of the chain to features the finned
cupola and Lamplighter weathervane. This is not to be confused with the Howard Johnson Tiki Resort just down the street.
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former Howard Johnson's
Williamstown, MA |
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The former Williamstown Howard Johnson's is one of the rare Colonial style survivors. Although it is now used as a bank and office space, most of the exterior design and details have been retained. The orange roof has given way to a more conservative color but the Simple Simon weathervane is still there. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
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