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Postcard ca.
1970s: Kummerlowe Archive |
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New
Haven-Long Wharf, CT --
400 Sargent Drive |
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Groundbreaking
for the New Haven Howard Johnson's took place on October 14, 1970
with Mayor Bartholomew Guida's symbolic shovel of earth. Heralded
for its location in the Long Wharf renewal project, the eight-story,
154 room Motor Lodge was operated by Stan Becker. Mr. Becker also
operated Lodges in Stratford,
Hartford
and at Kennedy Airport in New York.
Architecturally
unlike any other Motor Lodge and Restaurant complex ever built,
New Haven-Long Wharf was perhaps a prototype designed to test the
feasibility of new lower-cost and time-saving construction methods
(see Stamford).
With one of the most visible spots in the New Haven area, as well
as its choice location at what is possibly Connecticut's busiest
Interstate interchange (I-95 & I-91), the unique high-rise HoJo's
opened in early 1972. |
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Below:
Near the end of its Howard Johnson's days, the Motor Lodge's apostrophe
and 'S' had been removed from the high rise's side |
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Photo
October 2000: Kummerlowe Archive |
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The
Long Wharf complex was a Howard Johnson's through and through.
Its Restaurant was integrated into the Motor Lodge building but
projected forward and was topped with traditional Orange Porcelain
Enamel Roof Tiles. However no cupolas of any type were ever installed
either to mark the Restaurant or the location of the Motor lodge
lobby.
Remaining
a HoJo's Lodge until about 1996, the hotel was then converted
into Suisse Chalet's Grand Chalet brand, and the restaurant kept
its Howard Johnson's name until August of 1997. The Restaurant
itself had been a part of the Carter family mini-HoJo's hospitality
empire. Irving "Bing" Carter was among the original
Howard Johnson's licensees and opened his first Howard Johnson's
in Fairfield,
Connecticut in 1936. Mr. Carter's son George went on to create
the now defunct Franchise Associates Incorporated in 1986 which
carried the HoJo's mantle until 2005. The Carter's last Restaurant
was the one at Branford
which had operated as a Ground Round prior to its closure. |
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Above:
Operating as a Grand Chalet with no restaurant
Below:
Converted into a Fairfield Inn shown after Greek Olive had opened |
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Photo
September 2004: Kummerlowe Archive |
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Photo
ca. 2005: BobVenditti |
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Above:
Lasting as a Fairfiled Inn just long enough to be seen with Marriott's
mandated sign change.
Below:
By 2007 Long Wharf had become a LaQuinta |
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Photo
May 2007: Phil Edwards |
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Photo
October 2000: Kummerlowe Archive |
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Photo
ca. 2003: Phil Edwards |
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Photo
September 2004: Kummerlowe Archive |
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Photos
ca. 2005: Phil Edwards |
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After
having been vacant for almost five years the former Howard Johnson's
restaurant received a complete makeover to become the lively and
modern Greek
Olive Diner.
Although not open 24-hours as its Orange Roofed predecessor had
been, the recycled eatery with its counter service, general layout,
and food offerings is at least slightly reminiscent of HoJo's
past. |
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Photo
September 2004: Kummerlowe Archive |
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Photos
ca. 2005: Phil Edwards |
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Photo
May 2007: Phil Edwards |
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