Once upon a time, HoJos were everywhere there were toll roads. They owned the rest stops on the Mass Pike, NY Thruway & others. You found them in vacation areas like the Mass Berkshires and Cape Cod.

They were awful, of course, and deserved to go out of business. But, my mother would go there for a clam roll and Mrs BamaVol and I were hooked on their fudge ripple and black raspberry ice cream.

I remember the last one I stopped in. We were driving back from Knoxville to Mass in the early 90's. There was one just over the border in Virginia.

Are they gone or would I find one somewhere in the restaurant equivalent of Jurassic Park?

When I was a kid, they were everywhere between Texas and Maine. For those looooong (mostly pre-interestate) drives back to Maine to visit relatives, we would often stop at either HoJo's or Stuckeys, since they functioned in the way that McDonalds et al now function for (usually) decent restrooms.

But ^ to the clam roll!

And their grilled hotdog with a side of baked beans was pretty good too.

Nice article here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Johnsons

Fried clams were one of Howard Johnson's specialities
and they were Great, that's with a capital "G"!

When I was a kid, they were everywhere between Texas and Maine. For those looooong (mostly pre-interestate) drives back to Maine to visit relatives, we would often stop at either HoJo's or Stuckeys, since they functioned in the way that McDonalds et al now function for (usually) decent restrooms.

But ^ to the clam roll!

And their grilled hotdog with a side of baked beans was pretty good too.

Nice article here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Johnsons

Excellent write up. I wonder if the HoJo I used to eat at on vacations in Orleans in the 60's was the original number 2?

I'm not a clam fan, but I would eat theirs because the often sand-filled stomaches were trimmed off. Of course, purists feel exactly the opposite way.

I really do associate the restaurants with the Mass Pike. I think they were paired up with Cities Service (now Citgo) gas stations.

I miss the corn toasties from their breakfast menu.

I miss the corn toasties from their breakfast menu.

I was partial to the orange toasties, but I used to buy them frozen at the grocery store.

The Howard Johnson's restaurant in Times Square just closed a few months ago. There was a farewell party with the requisite supermodels. Reportedly surreal.

I believe that was the last Howard Johnson's restaurant.

Correction. There are five remaining restaurants according to this site: http://www.hojoland.com/

There was a Howard Johnsons in Lake Placid the last time I was there about 3 years ago. Don't know if they're still open.

The Howard Johnson's restaurant in Times Square just closed a few months ago. There was a farewell party with the requisite supermodels. Reportedly surreal.

I believe that was the last Howard Johnson's restaurant.

Correction. There are five remaining restaurants according to this site: http://www.hojoland.com/

Wow. Neat site, too. I'll have to explore it more deeply later on.

Does anyone remember the HoJo send-up done by Mad Magazine, probably late 60's? I just remember a carload of of glazed-looking travellers chanting "Johnson Howards" when asked where they would stop.

I was partial to the orange toasties, but I used to buy them frozen at the grocery store.

I remember them in the stores as a child. Then in the early 90s they were briefly available again in the local stores here in Asheville. I hear that you can get them in some stores in the northeast.

I don't remember when they left the food biz, but I loved that ice cream. The coolest thing they ever did though was in 1969 they gave out a punch-out set for the Apollo LEM. My Mom saved me two in a zip lock bag and I let each kid of mine put one together. Does anyone else remember those??

Fried clams were one of Howard Johnson's specialities
and they were Great, that's with a capital "G"!

^ ^ ^

I remember them all over the place. I even worked at one many years ago. But then they disappeared. :(

When I was driving X-country a few years ago, I stopped overnight in Goodland, KS - and stayed at a HoJo motel! I didn't know they were still around! (But - no HoJo restaurant. :( )

Fried clams and mac and cheese. It's been a very long time, but i don't think I'd turn that meal down if I could get one today.

Fried clams were one of Howard Johnson's specialities
and they were Great, that's with a capital "G"!

They still are. :)
There's a functioning HoJo near the Bangor, ME airport that I eat at a couple times a year.
The clams are as good as I remembered and they have an all-u-can-eat special every Friday night. ^

>"There's a functioning HoJo near the Bangor, ME airport that I eat at a couple times a year."

Does it carry their Peppermint Stivk Ice Cream?
\
Jane in PHL (Misses that the most)

>"There's a functioning HoJo near the Bangor, ME airport that I eat at a couple times a year."

Does it carry their Peppermint Stivk Ice Cream?
\
Jane in PHL (Misses that the most)

I’ll have to check next time I’m there and report back here. I’m not an ice cream aficionado and so didn’t pay attention.
I usually just get the All American Meal™ at HoJo’s which, by my definition, is a couple of Tanqueray martini’s and a heaping plate of fried clams. :cool:

The Howard Johnson's restaurant in Times Square just closed a few months ago. There was a farewell party with the requisite supermodels. Reportedly surreal.
http://www.hojoland.com/
I had a hot fudge sundae at that HoJos about a year before it closed. Took over 45 minutes to go from order to delivery, and it was absolutely inedible.

How can you possibly screw up a hot fudge sundae????

In their heyday, I did love these circular milk chocolate lollipops with white chocolate pictures on the front of them....anyone remember? I know their fried clams were a big hit.

I spent two years (1981 -82) right near Bangor airport and don't remember any HoJo's near there - just Mickey D's across the street.

"My" HoJo's were Hope Valley, RI (just off off I-95) and Buzzards Bay, MA.

I spent two years (1981 -82) right near Bangor airport and don't remember any HoJo's near there - just Mickey D's across the street.


Been there as long as I've traveled to Bangor....and that's been for a couple of decades.

Howard Johnson Inn - Bangor

336 Odlin Road/I-95
I-95 & I-295
Bangor, ME, 04401 US
Phone: 207-942-5251

The company has been edging its way out of the business for some time. About two or so years ago, they had a big PR splash about the change. It was interesting to hear the history of the company--quite innovative--but that it was basically supplanted by the fast food industry!

I for one, don't miss them. They were destination restaurants (at least for highway travellers) when I was a little kid in the 50s, and then went into a slow decline.

Fast forward to the 70s....

I'm now a young man travelling on my own. My memory of them is of dismal, mismanaged, overpriced, unpleasant places positioned primarily on toll roads or other types of locations where hapless travellers had little or no other choices.

Perhaps the original business model had been something worthy, but by the latter third of the 20th century, most of them had become pretty awful.