It’s not a Howard Johnson’s Restaurant anymore, but who could not notice that classic orange roof, cupola (tho not aqua) and Simon and The Pieman? I notice it every time I drive past this location (which I will be keeping secret at the moment, lest anyone go try and take down the weathervane!)
I have been told that Hojo’s were more numerous and popular in the Northeast (they originated in Quincy, MA) and they were my favorite growing up. My grandmother would buy pints of Howard Johnson’s ice cream and keep them in the freezer at her house – I can picture a scoop of strawberry ice cream in one of the little striped glass Pyrex bowls she’d serve it to us in. Later as I got older the Hojo’s out on the Mass Pike would be a welcome stop on a long drive back from Girl Scout Camp, and even later than that the one just across the highway from where I grew up was a late night hang for high school kids just learning to drink coffee (or me, eating my favorite flavor of ice cream – Howard Johnson’s mocha chip.) Orange and aqua is still one of my favorite color combos, even if there are only 2? 3? Howard Johnsons restaurants still around.
Keep your eyes peeled, you never know what might be a clue to the past!
Glenn Wells
April 4, 2011 at 5:22 amThat is a very unusual cupola style, and I would say it’s pre-1960. In the 1960s most “modern” style Ho Jo’s used a cupola style like this: http://www.roadsidefans.com/hojolgcupola1.jpg
Then in the 1970s they switched to this style (with no weathervane – BOO!)
http://www.roadsidefans.com/70scupola1.jpg
Great picture with the sun and the flag. God bless America (the real one – not the one hijacked by interest groups.)
Mod Betty / RetroRoadmap.com
April 4, 2011 at 7:09 amGlenn – thanks for the historical backgroud about the cupola – and the kind words on the photo – I was pleased with how it came out, and since it was really a drive by / split decision to photo it I’m also pleased with how it came out.
I’m also partial to this one : http://www.flickr.com/photos/modbetty/5586926441/ but it doesn’t have the famous orange roof.
romleys
June 29, 2011 at 8:55 pmbut this is a knockoff HoJos…
http://www.agilitynut.com/eateries/hojos3.html
Mod Betty / RetroRoadmap.com
June 30, 2011 at 9:11 amcould be! Funny that they’d go to so much trouble to pretend to be a Hojos!
Add a comment