This page is in no way connected to or represented in any way by La Mancha Group, LLC, licensee of the trademarked "Howard Johnson's" name in terms of food and beverage, or Wyndham Worldwide, owner of the "Howard Johnson" Hotel, Motel, Inn and Motor Lodge System as well as the "HoJo" and "Howard Johnson" name.
(New York, NY) There is no doubt that Howard Johnson's Restaurant's have had a long and storied presence in New York City. "The Big Apple" once boasted having nearly ten HoJo Restaurants serving "comfort food" to hungry New Yorkers. Over time, that number dwindled to one at 46th Street and Broadway. The 46th Street HoJo's was there for forty-six years (1959-2005), well beyond anyone's wildest guess as to how long the "grand old lady" would hang on.
In this special HoJoLand.com feature, we highlight some of the great HoJo's Restaurants that were a part of everyday New York City. Enjoy!
Spotlighting HoJo's Storied New York City History
*Manhattan-14th Street and/or 1st Avenue near old Whelan's Drug Store
*Manhattan-Times Square-1551 Broadway at 46th Street
*Manhattan-Times Square-1546 Broadway at 46th Street
*Manhattan-Times Square-1612 Broadway
*Manhattan-Times Square-851 8th Avenue
*Manhattan-Chanin Building-41st Street at 42nd Street & Lexington Avenue
*Manhattan-741 Lexington Avnue at 59th Street
*Manhattan-135 East 53rd Street also called 617 Lexington Avenue
*Manhattan-Greenwich Village, Corner of 6th Avenue and Greenwich Avenue
*Queens Boulevard
HoJo's NYC Locations
"The Grand Old Lady"-46th Street & Broadway (1546 Broadway)
Above: The same building in the late 1950's. Note the Automat two doors down from HoJo's.
Above: The same building in 1911 (1546 Broadway & 46th Street). HoJo's Had Not Yet Arrived.
Above: The same building in 2001. The Automat is long-gone
Above: This HoJo's at 1551 Broadway (closed in the late 1980's) was located almost directly across the street from the 46th HoJo's that closed in 2005.
Another Closed HoJo Location
On Broadway
HoJo's In Chanin Building,
East 42nd Steet (southwest corner of Lexington Ave).
HoJo's Was Located Here/Chanin Building
Picture of Chanin Taken from Chrysler Building
Former HoJo's, later Houlihan's, now clothing store where HoJo's was located.
HoJo's Was Located Here/Chanin Building
Above: The 56 story buff brick and terra cotta I. Chanin Building, built by architect Irwin Chanin between 1927 and 1929, featured a Howard Johnson's Restaurant which was owned by Seymour Ellis, on the first floor (the space later became Houlihan's Restaurant, but is now occupied by a clothing store).
OBITUARY OF SEYMOUR ELLIS,
OWNER OF CHANIN BUILDING HOJO'S RESTAURANT
Seymour Ellis, 71, a Retired Restaurateur
Published: June 8, 1988
Seymour Ellis, a retired New York restaurateur, died of heart failure May 25 at his retirement home in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. He was 71 years old and had lived for many years in Stamford, Conn. Seymour Ellis, a retired New York restaurateur, died of heart failure May 25 at his retirement home in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. He was 71 years old and had lived for many years in Stamford, Conn. Mr. Ellis, a graduate of Dartmouth College and the Harvard Business School, served as a Navy lieutenant in World War II. Before entering the restaurant business he was advertising manager of Philip Morris Inc., of which his father, Rubin Morris Ellis, was a co-founder.
At one time, Mr. Morris owned six Manhattan restaurants, including Manny Wolf's Steak House, Harvey's Seafood House and The Old Garden. His Howard Johnson in the Chanin building on 42d Street, one of three Howard Johnson restaurants he operated in New York City, was the largest in the chain.
Surviving are his wife, the former Helen Rockett; a son, John, of Rancho Santa Fe; two daughters, Helene, of White Rock, British Columbia, and Janice Ellis-Dick of Seattle, and a sister, Helen Prouty of Hamden, Conn.
More of The Big "Orange" Apple
Former HoJo's at 53rd street & Lexington Avenue in New York City.
Photo Courtesy Laura Ruffalo
Old advertisement for former HoJo's at 53rd street & Lexington Avenue near the "World's Most Famous Arena," Madison Square Garden in New York City.
1959-2005: 46 Years on 46th Street
Times Square HoJo's Restaurant Closed Forever
(New York, NY) The landmark Howard Johnson's in New York's famed Times Square closed Friday night, July 8th, 2005 (technically Saturday morning, July 9th at 12 midnight. Though most of the memorabilia was gone that night, there was an auction held on Sunday morning. CLICK HERE for complete details of the last hours of this Times Square landmark, including pictures of the desecration of this HoJo's.
I'll be missing you: on HoJo's last night of existence, a loyal customer kisses Richard, a Times Square HoJo waiter for 27 years, goodbye.
Copyright, 2005. HoJoLand.com
Copyright, 2005. HoJoLand.com
Above: Classic postcard supplied to HoJoLand.com by John Donovan of the Queens Boulevard HoJo's Restaurant, the largest HoJo Restaurant ever built, which, unfortunately, is long gone.
November 9, 1965 award honoring the crew at the Times Square HoJo's at 46th Street & Broadway (1546 Broadway).
Photo Courtesy Djamal.
Above: HoJo's in the 1960's at (1546 Broadway & 46th Street).
Above: Recent (winter 2008) pic of the former location of the last New York City HoJo's at (1546 Broadway & 46th Street). The empty lot, surrounded by blue plywood, would soon be the flagship location of American Eagle clothing stores.
Above: Another picture of HoJo's in the 1960's at (1546 Broadway & 46th Street). Note the Burger King located just a few doors up.
