One
of the first two Howard Johnson's Restaurants in "The
First State," New Castle opened prior to WW II, and
remained open into the 1980s. The 41 unit Dutch Village
Motor Inn was adjacent to the Restaurant and advertised
it's proximity as a benefit to patrons.
The
Restaurant's adjacent motel remained affiliated as a Quality
Inn until the late 1980s. However, by 1990 it had gone independent
and advertised its adjacent former Howard Johnson's as the
Village Station Family restaurant.
In
the summer of 1991, the former Howard Johnson's Restaurant
underwent a complete renovation and was converted into a
Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon. At the time, it was the
ninth outlet of the then growing chain of eateries. Moreover
it became one of the most popular restaurants in all of
Delaware and once had wait times of 45 minutes or more for
a table!