HOWARD JOHNSON'S





 

HoJo’s begat the motel chain. It was one of the first national restaurant chains, and at its peak was the largest, with over 1000 locations. (I’m not sure how many of those were Ground Rounds, but I suspect the number was substantial.)

There are two left.

The origins:

After borrowing $2,000 in 1925 to buy and operate a small corner drugstore in Wollaston, a neighborhood in Quincy, Massachusetts, Johnson was surprised to find it easy to pay back the money lent to him after discovering his recently installed soda fountain had become the busiest part of his drugstore. Eager to ensure that his drugstore would remain successful, Johnson decided to come up with a new ice cream recipe.”

More butterfat, that was the secret.