Once America’s largest restaurant chain, Howard Johnson’s were immediately-recognizable for its orange, peaked roofs.
Sadly the former roadside staple succumbed, as so many other classic American properties have recently, closing it’s doors for the final time at its Lake George, NY location.
Ho-Jo’s were synonymous with mid-century American road trip culture and, at one time, was the nation’s largest restaurant chain with 1,000 locations in the 1960s and 1970s.
I do remember a number of family road trips being spent at Howard Johnson’s motor lodges (restaurant + motel) where I was more excited to stay at Ho-Jo’s (specifically for their large variety of ice cream and swimming pools) than the eventual destination.
Although the Howard Johnson restaurants are closed, the hotel chain (currently owned by hotel magnate Wyndham) is still alive and well – sporting around 300 locations nationwide. But road trips won’t be the same without the safe, comforting sight of the pointy, orange roof inviting you to Go Happy, Go Ho-Jo and feel at home.
[ CNN.com ]
