Restaurants in 1980: 129
Year founded: 1927
Howard
Johnson’s was, for decades, one of the most well-recognized American
businesses in the country. The franchise expanded from a single ice
cream store located in Quincy, Mass., in 1927 to an empire of
restaurants and hotels. By the 1970s, there were more than 1,000 Howard
Johnson’s restaurants in the United States. Currently, there are only
two restaurants in the entire country: one in Bangor, Me., and one in
Lake Placid, N.Y. One of the factors contributing to the decline of the
chain was the decline of the motel industry nationwide, according to
Tristano. The chain has since shifted focus to its hotel division and
now maintains properties across the world.
I really miss HoJo's Restaurants. When I was a kid, it was a real treat to go and get the unlimited fried clam dinner. My brother had a learning disability so he needed special tutoring. So two or three times a week we'd make a trip to visit the tutor. When he did very well on something we'd go to HoJo's for dinner afterwards. My family also had a tradition of going to a movie and dinner as a Christmas holiday treat when we were very little. Since HoJo's was near the theater we frequently went to it was also where we'd go to dinner then.
Ahh, memories!
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