Howard Johnson
This restaurant is closed!
Contact Info:
Address: 1551 Broadway
City: New York, NY
Zip: 10036
map: View the Map
Phone: (212) 354-1445
Food Info:
Menu: View the Menu
Cuisine:
Burgers
2nd Cuisine:
Diners
Cititour Review:
It was bound to happen. after 46 years, Howard Johnson's, HoJo to its loyal fans, has flipped its last burger. The Times Square landmark falling victim to rising property values. Gone are the bright orange booths. The soda fountain. Only the beaming neon Howard Johnson sign and some scattered remnants remain, until the wrecking block arrives. A sign in the window proclaiming the final special. It read: Manager's Special Macaroni + Cheese Salad + Garlic Bread $8.95 Home Made Meat Lasagna, Salad, Garlic Bread 9.99 Double Pork Chops Mashed Potatoes Vegetables, Apple Sauce, Rolls + Butter 10.99 So HoJo's will soon be history. New Yorkers losing one of the last remaining remnants of old Times Square. Only a few people took notice as the store was being emptied. One passerby remarking, "Look, Howard Johnson is closed."
(Original Review Below)
Ever since I can remember, Howard Johnson's has been a permanent fixture in Times Square. Through good times and bad, its orange and blue neon lights are forever fixed in my memory. Then, I realized that I never actually went inside. Thus, my journey begins. From the outside, the place looks somewhat drab and faded, and it's not much better on the inside. Orange vinyl booths and stools stand out against the fake wood paneling and broken lattice dividers and plastic flowers. But despite all its shortcomings, Howard Johnson's has the look and feel of old New York, a place for families to catch a burger and some shoestring potatoes, or and ice cream Sunday for the kids. The food is just fair. The prices are decent for the area. And the staff is made up of true New Yorkers and of Howard Johnson's faithful. My waiter, who told me he thought the place first opened in 1958, said the owners had stopped renovating in recent years, that the area was changing, property values rising and no-one was sure when or if the place would still be there in a another year. But if New York is smart its would make it a city landmark, like the Apollo Theater or Fraunces Tavern. Where else could you take a step back into the 50's.
Review By: SJS
Comments:
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