East Lyme's Restaurant was likely converted directly from a Howard Johnson's into a Bickfords without passing go or having its owners collect $200. Utilizing all of HoJo's fixtures and even most of its furniture, the site operated as a Bickford's in much the same manner as it had while it was a Howard Johnson's--even its Rum Keg Lounge remained!

Perhaps converted into and then operated by Marriott until about 1990, it is unclear who owned it in the end. By the middle 2000s, Bickford's fortunes had faltered. The firm had elevated menu prices, ceased capital improvements, and introduced several ill-conceived concepts--all reminiscent of HoJo's prior to its demise. Attempting to raise average check totals, Bickfords abandoned its family moniker and began pushing the sale of alcohol and calling itself Bickford's Grill. However by 2006 it had closed all but a few of its locations--a sad time for HoJo's fans since many of its outlets were housed in former Howard Johnson's Restaurants.

Right: Lacking funds, the East Lyme Bickford's had not even a 'Y' to spell Mystic correctly.