Howard Johnson's Restaurant Davenport, Iowa
Photographs October 2003: Courtesy of Rick Briley
 
Davenport, Iowa -- 3852 North Brady St. (U.S. 61 @ U.S. 6)
 

The first Howard Johnson's in Iowa, Davenport opened in 1956 at what observer Rick Briley described as "one of the busiest corners in the state." Iowa served as an important jumping off point into the West for the Howard Johnson Company, and the brand had a very active presence in the state by the 1960s.

 
Howard Johnson's Restaurant Davenport, Iowa
 
 
Howard Johnson's Restaurant Davenport, Iowa
 
 

 
 
Howard Johnson's Restaurant Davenport, Iowa
Photographs August 2006: Courtesy of Phil Edwards

In 1972, Davenport's Orange Roof was painted green and the Restaurant was converted into HoJo's Ground Round concept. Through more than a couple of brand ownership changes, Davenport remained a Ground Round into the 1990s. Now defunct, while American Hospitality Concepts, Inc.(AHC) owned the Ground Round name it converted Davenport into one of its ten locations of a short lived concept called The Tin Alley Grill. With AHC's sudden bankruptcy in the early 2000s, the former Davenport HoJo's was vacant until becoming Los Agaves Mexican Grill.

Left: Note the recycled Ground Round sign.

 
 
Howard Johnson's Restaurant Davenport, Iowa
 
 
Howard Johnson's Restaurant Davenport, Iowa
 
 
Howard Johnson's Restaurant Davenport, Iowa
 
 
Howard Johnson's Restaurant Davenport, Iowa