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This page is in no way connected to or represented in any way by Franchise Associates, Inc., licensee of the trademarked "Howard Johnson's" name, or by Cendant Corporation, owner of the "Howard Johnson" Hotel, Motel, Inn and Motor Lodge System as well as the "HoJo" and "Howard Johnson" name. The name "HoJoLand," is Copyright 2001-2005, by W.L. Mann. All Rights Reserved.

Unofficial Howard Johnson's Restaurant & Ice Cream Shop Web Site

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NEVER FORGET

New! Info on HoJo Signature Food Products

Click on the HOJO FOODS button below to find out who still makes the signature HoJo food products such as Macaroni & Cheese, Toastees, Ice Cream, etc.

Check Out HoJoLand's new Catskill's Hotel & Resort Tribute pages by clicking HERE

Last Puerto Rico HoJo Restaurant Closes

Above: Now-Closed Puerto Rico HJ Restaurant. Photo Courtesy: Rich Kummerlowe AutoAge.org Photos Taken By Chris Coleman

Above: Now closed Millington, MD HoJo Restaurant.

(Carolina, Puerto Rico) .What was a glimmer of hope for the fading Howard Johnson's Restaurant chain, the Carolina, Puerto Rico location at 4820 Isla Verde Avenue, which opened several years ago, closed in late-fall 2004.  According to an employee at the adjacent Howard Johnson Hotel, the HoJo Restaurant closed when the contract was up.  The restaurant is now "La Meje" Seafood Restaurant. The opening of this Puerto Rico HoJo took many by surprise when it opened several years ago in a land once dotted with many HoJo's.  Ironically, and perhaps a sign of the future, this HoJo sported a blue roof, as opposed to the traditional orange roof.  What HoJo Restaurants really need now is a "white knight" like Warren Buffet who rescued the fading Dairy Queen chain years ago.  Are there any "white knights" out there to help save the "orange roof"?

Recent picture of the Springfield, VT HoJo Restaurant. (photo courtesy: Janet Betta)

FADING ORANGE: TIMES SQUARE HOJO'S CLOSING SOON !

(New York, NY)  It's official.  The end of an era.  The April 19, 2005 New York Post (click here for story link) has confirmed that the venerable Howard Johnson's Restaurant, a Times Square fixture for 50 years, will close soon, with demolition likely to start by the end of the year.  The Rubinstein family, which also owns the HoJo restaurant franchise, sold the building housing the restaurant, as well as two other buildings, for over $100,000,000 (one hundred million) to Jeff Sutton's Wharton Acquisitions, according to C. Bradley Mendelson, a real estate broker with Cushman and Wakefield.  It's expected that the building housing HoJo's will be replaced with a 3 or 4 story "glamorous retail development. The HoJo's in Springfield, Vermont was closed May 15th, 2005, followed by the closure of HoJo units in Michigan and Maryland, and with the Times Square HoJo's death knell sounding, this will leave only 5 remaining Howard Johnson's Restaurants.  HoJoLand.com received an e-mail from Walter Elliot, a customer who enjoyed a milkshake at the Times Square HoJo's on April 21, 2005, and Elliot stated he was told by a HoJo's staff member that the restaurant would close in "3 to 4 weeks."

The end is here for HoJo's in Times Square

(Photo: Geralyn Shukwit)

*CLICK HERE to read PLAYBILL.COM's Story *CLICK HERE for more about Times Sq. HoJo's *CLICK HERE for 4/23/05 Patriot Ledger article *CLICK HERE for 4/25/05 NY Times Article

ADDITIONAL STORY LINKS:

WHO OWNS THE RIGHTS TO HJ FROZEN FOODS?

(Hamden, CT) A box of Howard Johnson's "Toastees" that were just purchased at the local Super Stop & Shop Supermarket in Hamden, CT, contained and ominous bit of new text in the lower-right-hand corner of the back of the box (as pictured below): "For Howard Johnson's Hotel Reservations, Call 1-800-IGO-HOJO  www.hojo.com."  As many already know, Cendant Corp., which owns the right to the Howard Johnson's name, had licensed that name for use in relation to food products to Franchise Associates, Inc. (FAI), who in turn sub-licensed the frozen food products and restaurants.  Since FAI's website is outdated, and no one answers the phones at its Shelton, CT office, one might assume that FAI may no longer exist.  Does the fact that now that Cendant's hotel contact information is now included on HJ frozen food packaging indicate that Cendant has reclaimed the food rights from FAI ?  Only time will tell. If true, perhaps having a large, successful company like Cendant behind the HJ frozen food products will be the key to increased distribution of those products.  Perhaps the new way (and only way) to eat HoJo's foods will be via your local supermarket's frozen food section.

A new box of HJ Toastees now indicates a Cendant-involvement with the products.  All packaging Copyright 2005 Fairfield Farms Kitchens, Cendant Corp.

CLICK HERE To Go Read All The Stories On The Now-Closed Springfield, Vermont Howard Johnson's

CLICK HERE to visit ORANGEROOF.ORG, another great HoJo's Tribute Site!

*CLICK HERE for 4/28/05 NY Times Article by Jacques Pepin *CLICK HERE for 4/28/05 Burlington Free Press Article *CLICK HERE for 4/28/05 Article by HoJoLand Contributor Tom Miles *CLICK HERE for 4/28/05 NY Newsday story

Latest Updates: *July 5th: Added Spotlight on Waterbury, CT HoJo's Restaurant (CLICK HERE) *June 12th: Added Maine, Maryland & Massachusetts to "The Big List" (CLICK HERE) *May 25th: Article on Hotel-Online.com About Fading HoJo Restaurants (CLICK HERE) *May 19th: WTNH-TV Story on Waterbury HoJo's (CLICK HERE) *May 15th AP Article on HoJo's by Clarke Canfield (CLICK HERE) *May 13th: Car Drives Into Waterbury HoJo (CLICK HERE) *HoJo VT Closes Permanently (CLICK HERE) *HoJo Puerto Rico: (Now Closed) Menu (CLICK HERE)

Photo: Geralyn Shukwit

CLICK ON WTNH BANNER BELOW TO VIEW WTNH-TV NEWS STORY  ON THE LAST HOJO IN CT

SHOCKER: BAY CITY, MICHIGAN HOJO RESTAURANT SHUTTERED

(Bay City, Michigan)  Like the song by Queen says, "Another One Bites The Dust."  This once again holds true for HoJo's, as OrangeRoof.org is reporting that Michigan's popular Bay City Howard Johnson's Restaurant abruptly closed this past week (May 17).  Details are sketchy at this point.  Visit Rich's www.OrangeRoof.org for further details.

(Waterbury, CT)  WTNH-TV NewsChannel 8 recently did a great video package on the Waterbury, CT HoJo (last one in CT).  Click on the WTNH banner below to see the WTNH page.  Then, click on the little orange video camera icon where it says "HoJo's Familiar Orange Roof..." to see the video/news package.

CONFIRMED: LAST MARYLAND HOJO RESTAURANT SHUTTERED

(Millington, Maryland)  The last Howard Johnson's Restaurant in Maryland has been closed permanently.  Town of Millington government sources say the restaurant was sold at auction in April.  Kent County Planning and Zoning officials say no plans have been submitted, but its expected that the building will re-open at some point as a restyaurant, but not under the Howard Johnson's brand.  Visit Rich's www.OrangeRoof.org for further details & pics.

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Times Square HoJo's Closing July 9, 3:30AM; Auction To Follow

(New York, NY) Sources at the landmark Howard Johnson's in New York's famed Times Square have told HoJoLand.com that the restaurant will close Friday night, July 8th, 2005 (technically Saturday morning, July 9th at 3:30AM).  Additionally, HoJoLand correspondent Steve Kamsler says the staff at Times Square HoJo's stated that there will be an auction of the restaurant's equipment and supplies on Sunday, July 10th.  Again, this information is derrived from HoJo Restaurant employees. Check back often to HoJoLand.com for the latest developments.

Waterbury HoJo's Spotlight

CLICK HERE to see our spotlight on Waterbury, CT HoJo's.