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Former HJ: Detroit-Jackson Ave,
MI |
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With the uncooperative
weather, Detroit proved to be somewhat of a bust for HoJo's
sightings. Plans had called for an ambitious and circuitous
route to check out most of the Detroit area Howard Johnson's
sites, but instead we limited the exploration. From
Downtown it was an easy hop over to Jackson Ave. which had
been converted into a Big Boy. Only the rear and side of
the building retained any of its HoJo-ness. |
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Next on our abbreviated
agenda was Oak Park. Having long ago lost the Howard
Johnson's name, it remains remarkably intact. Packed with patrons,
it was impossible to get any interior shots. Its Dairy Bar intact,
it was surprising to discover that the Restaurant apparently
never featured a cathedral ceiling. Original HoJo's tables were
still being used, but utilized a more elaborate base. Now called
Sami's, Sami himself collected our money, and indicated that
he had owned the Restaurant for more than seventeen years. |
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Former HoJo's: Detroit-Oak Park,
MI |
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Amoco Station: Dearborn, MI |
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After leaving Sami's,
we headed to see Southfield, but the Motor Lodge was demolished
some time ago and the Restaurant had been converted into
a "coney island" type restaurant specializing
in hot dogs! Unfortunately we ended up without any photographs
of Southfield's current state. Along the way to Ann Arbor
we spotted a still operating Amoco station on Michigan Avenue
which must date from the 1930s or very early 1940s.
Additional Information
1,
2 |
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Former HoJo's: Ann Arbor, MI |
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Site of HoJo's: Mt. Clemens,
MI |
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Ann Arbor's former HoJo's where Dan and I
spent the night was a mess. The grounds had been torn up, and
heavy equipment was blocking part of the drive-way and parking
lot. Due to operator error, I have no exterior photographs of
the site from the visit. Apparently the location will be demolished
or VERY heavily remodeled into a Baymont Inn. The area where
the pool once was is now a Baymont Inn building. Interestingly
a few of the booths were saved from the restaurant and served
as seating for motel guests near the Gate Lodge where continental
breakfast is set up. The Restaurant was converted into several
unsuccessful independent concepts starting in 1988 when it became
an Asian-Italian eatery called the Eastern Crabhouse. After that
it became Bob Silverman's, but in 1998 became Deb's Eatery. Finally
is one last gasp, it became Alpha Koney Island. Having run its
course, the end finally came for the Restaurant that had been
the last company owned location in Michigan and had served as
the Headquarters for Howard Johnson's Corporate owned restaurants
in the state.
From Ann Arbor we sought the former
stand-alone Restaurant at Stadium Blvd & Washtenaw only
to discover that the neo-colonial type HoJo's had been replaced
with a small strip-office building. Leaving Ann Arbor, we decided
to incorporate Mt. Clemens, Port Huron, and the Flint sites
on the way to Bay City. Having advance notice that Mt. Clemens
had become a Sign of the Beefcarver did not help us spot it
as I drove past! The current building is neither the right shape
nor sited correctly on the prime corner lot to have been the
actual HoJo's, but perhaps some part of it hidden behind the
facade is original. The Sign of the Beefcarver has been there
since 1974, but will soon likely be demolished to make way for
a CVS, which received approval in April of 2004 for its projected
new location. Even though Port Huron was out of the way, it would be Dan's
only opportunity to see Lake Huron and the former non-standard
HoJo's that had been converted into a Day's Inn. The former
HoJo's does not elicit much excitement from Howard Johnson fans
since it was pre-standardization, but part of the original building
remains and its office is still in its original location. Alas
the Restaurant was replaced several years ago by a Rite Aid.
Interestingly, adjacent to the HJ remains is a strip center
once anchored by a colonial style A & P, which has found
new life as a billiards hall. Unfortunately since I had not
properly loaded film into my camera, I have no current shots
form Port Huron. |
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Former HoJo's: Flint-Dort Hwy,
MI |
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Former HoJo's: Flint-East, MI |
See Cactus Bob's Flint-East
pics here |
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Upon leaving Port Huron,
the weather took a turn for the worse, and by the time we arrived
in Flint it had begun to rain. Flint-East had a remarkable amount of its HoJo-ness
intact, but was in disrepair--in fact, the once touted indoor
pool area had been cordoned off. As a Best Inn, the staff were
very friendly and allowed Dan and I to have a quick look around
including a peek into couple of ground floor rooms. However, the
former HoJo's is at a point where it will either need extensive
renovation or will face the specter of demolition. The Nims-type
stand alone Restaurant on Dort Hwy. which was not far from Flint-East
appears to have had its exterior reasonably well preserved considering
that it was serving as a used car lot. Again and unfortunately
my carefully framed shots were all for naught since film was not
winding its way through my camera! A quick look where Flint-Southwest had been revealed no evidence
of the once sprawling Howard Johnson's. |
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