The Howard Johnson story began in 1925 in Quincy, Massachusetts. In his small pharmacy, Johnson installed a small soda fountain, which quickly became the most popular part of the store.
Inspired, he started to develop ice cream flavors, which were also successful. A few years later, he developed his signature 28 flavors and sold them at ice cream stands along the coast of Massachusetts.
From here, Johnson went on to open his first restaurant in 1929 on the land of one of his relatives. Another resounding success eventually led to a franchise of 130 restaurants throughout New England.
The familiar “A” frame design that has become iconic was introduced by architect Rufus Nims in 1948. It was intended for a location in Miami and quickly became the trademark look of the brand.
The 1970s saw a huge change in the way Howard Johnson’s restaurants ran. They changed their target demographic from travelers to nearby populations. They introduced many child-friendly promotions like birthday cards that were redeemable for a free meal, a cake, or more.
They also redesigned their menus to attract more families with children. Some menus could be converted into a mask with a piece of string, while others were educational, showing a map of the United States or how the metric system works.
Today, there is only one Howard Johnson’s restaurant remaining at Lake George, New York.
