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Troy, Ohio--from
Howard Johnson's Landmark June-July 1967 |
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HOJO Junctions
Troy, Findlay, and ,Miamisburg
Ohio--with more planned |
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With roots in quick service
food, it isn't surprising that the Howard Johnson Company
would experiment with "fast food" concepts. Even before
the first full-service Restaurant opened in 1929, Mr. Johnson
had operated several seasonal stands on the way to Cape Cod which
featured a limited menu. By the 1950s, the company had at least
a few stands in Massachusetts where either curb or self service
was offered. Then in 1955 it converted its Saugus, Mass. stand
into a full fledged drive-in--complete with car hops and an ultra-modern-for-its-time
computerized ordering system called Teletray control. |
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Findlay, Ohio--Photograph
April 24, 2004 |
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Troy, Ohio--from
Howard Johnson's Landmark June-July 1967 |
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However fast food
chains like McDonald's, Burger King and the host of others that
eventually came to dominate the market were not even blips on
HoJo's radar scope, and the Company did not seriously pursue
fast food. The chain experimented again in the mid 1960s with
another drive-in concept called HoJo's Whistle Stop Junction
as some executives began to realize the popularity of fast food
concepts. Built in New Britain, Conn., the Whistle Stop employed
techniques that had become common practice in the fast food industry
like self service, disposable containers, and a limited menu.
They may have even "borrowed" some equipment from the
Burger King Corporation! |
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Findlay, Ohio--Photograph
April 24, 2004 |
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Troy, Ohio--from
Howard Johnson's Landmark June-July 1967 |
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It isn't apparent what
happened to the Whistle Stop Junction, but the idea evolved into
what Company propaganda called "the start of a chain--within
a chain." Obviously based on the New Britain prototype,
Howard Johnson created the HOJO Junction concept. The first opened
in September of 1966 in Troy, Ohio. |
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Findlay, Ohio--Photograph
April 24, 2004 |
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