In the late 1970’s, there were more than 1000 Howard Johnson’s restaurants located coast to coast. As of January, 2009, only 3 remain.
Several years ago, I took a trip to see the penultimate HoJo’s restaurant in Florida, arriving as they were literally tearing up the floorboards. Along the way, memories took me back to HoJo restaurants from my youth, including the one in Asbury Park, NJ pictured below.
HoJo’s Restaurant. Asbury Park 2006
Follow this link to the essay, which is as much a tale of the rise and fall of the greatest roadside empire as it is an examination of some of the towns and cities in which HoJo’s once reigned. http://www.sauromotel.com/2007/06/hojo%e2%80%99s-last-gasp/
I’m not a big scary movie guy, but I even threw in some ghosts for you.
A HoJo Ghost – Sweet Cupola