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Brochure ca. 1960s: Dan Donahue
 
Opening in conjunction with its adjacent Motor Lodge in 1965, the Southington Restaurant lasted well into the middle 1980s. Larger than some, the Nims based building was remodeled by the Howard Johnson Company in the late 1970s resulting in the loss of its Dairy Bar.
 
 
 
 
Photos December 2001: Kummerlowe Archive
 
 
 
 
Sept. 2006 : Kummerlowe Archive

After the breakup of Howard Johnson's, Southington's Restaurant became a Bickford's, and remained one until the middle 2000s. Unfortunately the Bickford's concept waned and the Southington location was closed (as were dozens of others). While the former HoJo's reopened and briefly operated as the Goldroc III Diner, business proved insufficient and the diner lasted only a short time.

By the end of 2006, a new eatery was housed in the completely transformed site. Passersby will not have the slightest clue that the building originally housed an outlet of what had once been the world's largest hospitality chain.

Left: Uncovered during transformation, one of the decorative concrete block "wing" walls was evident.

Lower: Completely unrecognizable, it's hard to believe that the original Nims-type Restaurant is hidden within!
 
 
 
 
Photos May 2007: Phil Edwards
 
 
 
 
 
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